When creating a roster for any sport, there is always the question of star power versus balance. Is it better to have a team that does not have one or two leading players, but is generally more consistent? Or is it better to have a couple of superstars surrounded by role players?
In college basketball, there have been examples of star-led teams succeeding. Last year, Purdue's Zach Edey led the Boilermakers to a national title game before losing to one of the most complete teams in sports history in the 2023-24 Connecticut Huskies.
But there have also been examples where NBA-bound stars have failed to galvanize those around them. Take Ben Simmons for example. He took the unconventional path in college by going to LSU, failing to even make the NIT (college basketball's Europa League equivalent) and still going first overall in that year's NBA Draft.
Rutgers is in a similar situation to the last one. They have two of the most exciting NBA lottery picks on their roster in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, but they have struggled all season as the supporting cast around them has fallen short.
On Thursday night in New Jersey, they played a Purdue team that was learning to live in the post-Edey era and are thriving in his absence.
In the battle of talent versus balance, it seemed like balance won the day as the 20th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 68-50.
Rutgers stars Dylan Harper (left) and Ace Bailey (right) will be NBA lottery picks in this year's draft.
But against nationally ranked Purdue, Bailey (4) and Harper (not pictured) couldn't pull through.
Purdue knows exactly what it means to be guided by a star. This season, some regression was expected after Edey, a two-time national player of the year, was drafted by the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.
But other key players from last year's national runner-up team, such as guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, as well as forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, remained in West Lafayette and together, along with key freshmen and transfer players, became a cohesive unit. in Edey's absence.
Those three have carried the load, and while none of them could be universally called a “superstar,” they all have the makings of well-rounded college players.
Purdue this season has been able to relatively stay the course, defeating ranked teams like Alabama and Ole Miss. Of their four losses this season, the only real blemish was a loss at Penn State (the other three were losses to ranked Marquette, Texas). A&M and Auburn).
Tough challenges lie ahead, but despite losing arguably the greatest player in program history, Purdue has been able to stay the course as one of the best in college basketball. The same cannot be said for their opponents and hosts on the night.
While Rutgers has had NBA stars among its ranks, it is not considered an elite basketball school. In their entire history, they have only reached March Madness eight times; Their greatest success came in 1976, when they reached the Final Four.
They had a 30-year drought between tournament appearances from 1991 until reaching the Big Dance in 2021 for the first time under head coach Steve Pikiell. They returned the following year but had problems ever since.
Scarlet Knights fans were given a lifeline over the summer when Pikiell and his staff managed to bring in the nation's No. 2 and No. 3 recruits in forward Ace Bailey and guard Dylan Harper.
After losing star Zach Edey, Purdue has realigned around the elite players from last year's team that reached a national title game (left: Braden Smith, right: Fletcher Loyer).
Ace Bailey (L) and Dylan Harper (R) run out of the tunnel before the game against Purdue.
Both recruits were essentially born to play this sport. Bailey's father played college baseball in Houston and his aunt won a gold medal with Team USA in the 1996 Olympics.
Harper, meanwhile, is the son of former NBA point guard Ron Harper, who won three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls before going to the Los Angeles Lakers and winning two more with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Both were touted as potential saviors of the program. Rutgers was expected to contend at the top of the Big Ten conference this season and was ranked in the preseason AP poll.
But what became abundantly clear as the season progressed is that the cast around them does not play at the same level.
Entering Thursday's game, Harper and Bailey led the team in scoring, averaging 21.1 and 19.1 points per game respectively. No one else on the team averages double-digit points. In fact, the two lead the team in every major statistical category, but they steal.
It means that when the tandem runs into a more complete team, like Purdue, they struggle. Losses to top teams Texas A&M and Alabama were expected, but losses at the hands of Kennesaw State and Princeton were indicative of a much larger problem.
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell talks to an official during the game against Purdue.
Purdue coach Matt Painter called a perfectly timed timeout to stop Rutgers' momentum.
Bailey (4) led the Scarlet Knights in points, but only one other player scored in double figures.
As conference play progressed, the Scarlet Knights only won one of their first four games against Big Ten opponents. After finishing the first half against Purdue trailing by nine points, it looked like that record wouldn't improve.
There was some hope when guard Tyson Acuff hit a three-pointer (assisted by Harper) to cut the deficit from 11 points to five. But a perfectly executed timeout by Purdue coach Matt Painter stopped Rutgers' momentum and sparked a Boilermaker run. Purdue never looked back and Rutgers only scored nine points after the timeout.
At one point, with about six minutes left, Pikiell eliminated Harper. The shooting guard, who had been battling the flu, shot just 2-for-9 and had six points, six rebounds and three assists.
Bailey didn't fare much better, leading the team in points (17), but finishing 5-15 in the process. The Scarlet Knights as a whole took fewer than 20 shots and attempted more than 50.
Now 8-8 on the season, Rutgers can't afford any wiggle room if they hope to go out swinging in March. As Pikiell told reporters after the game: “I'm very aware of how difficult it is to get into the NCAA tournament…fortunately Selection Sunday will be 66 days from now, and not today.”