It has only been a week since the two superstars for Rutgers Men’s Basketball made history and got drafted within the first round. Dylan Harper, who went second overall to the San Antonio Spurs, and Ace Bailey, who went fifth selected by the Utah Jazz. The headlines and recognition of the program have never been stronger, but with their stars gone, fans across the country are asking: What’s next for Rutgers basketball?
2025 NBA Draft - Round One Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper—2025 NBA Draft
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Finishing the 2024-25 season 8-12 and 11th place in the Big Ten conference, many questions circled whether there had been enough talent surrounding Bailey and Harper. With various media outlets blaming Rutgers Coach Steve Pikieli and his staff, others have faulted player talent. ESPN’s Johnathan Givony on “The Hoop Collective” stressed, “They had no shooting, they had no bigs, they had nothing, honestly”. Givony’s claim may have validity to it, as Rutgers collectively averaged 77 PPG, with Bailey and Harper accounting for nearly half of that (17.4 and 19.6 PPG, respectively).
As the team goes into the 2025-26 season, Steve Pickieli faces some difficult questions. Was it truly the pieces around the Spurs and Jazz rookies that were lacking, or was the stars’ talent so powerful that it disrupted the team chemistry and playbook? By not being able to outdo himself as he did last year when recruiting, the Scarlet Knights do show promise in talent, led by 4-star talent Chris Nwuli from Dallas, Texas, and 3-star talent Kaden Powers from Seattle, Washington. As a result, maybe Rutgers can use this to their advantage in reestablishing camaraderie and balance.
NCAA BASKETBALL: MAR 16 Div I Men’s Championship - First Four - Notre Dame v Rutgers Steve Pikiell— Coaching Sideline vs Notre Dame
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Beyond the court, financial concerns are rising. Rutgers Athletics is facing a staggering $70 million deficit—the largest in the Big Ten. This is fueled by high coaching salaries, Big Ten travel/facility costs, and insufficient ticket and merchandise revenue. In 2023–24 alone, Rutgers spent $38.7 million on wages, while increasing average 100-level ticket prices from $92 to $106 in 2024–25.
With recruiting momentum slowing and revenue pressure building, fans and analysts are asking: Is it still financially viable for Rutgers to compete in the Big Ten? The success of Harper and Bailey might boost national storylines, but the program’s future hinges on more than just draft picks. Instead, it’s reliant on sustained performance, smart recruiting, and fiscal accountability.