The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were not always known for basketball, but two superstar players have changed the narrative.
Rutgers dominated Colombia 91-64 on Monday night. The Scarlet Knights improved to 8-5 on the season and moved to 15th in the Big Ten.
The Duo
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are the big names that have given Rutgers the spotlight in basketball once again.
Bailey, who is likely going to be number two pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, posted 24 points and 8 rebounds. Harper, who will likely be a top five pick in the draft, had a triple double with 16 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in the win.
“Obviously, it’s a great accomplishment, but I mean I couldn’t have done any of that without my teammates,” Harper said. “I mean, guys like Jamichael Davis, Ace Bailey, the rest of the team just really put me in great positions. They got open for me to find them and for them to score.”
This was the first Rutgers Scarlet Knight triple double since 1983, when Roy Hinson recorded one with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks.
The Other Guys
Sophomore guard Jamichael Davis averages 3.8 points and 1.8 assists a game, but against Columbia, he had 11 points and 7 (!) assists. Big man Lathan Sommerville poured in 11 points and 5 boards. When players like this step up, the possibilities can be endless for Rutgers.
Looking Ahead
Rutgers has some tough tests coming up. They play teams within the Big Ten Conference and they will have to prove that they are worthy of elite play. They will face teams such as Purdue, UCLA, Illinois, Oregon and the best team in the conference in Michigan State. Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are two of the best players in the nation and will try to come up large to reserve Rutgers a spot in March for the NCAA tournament.
