“Get the ball to Dylan Harper”- College hoops fans abandon Ace Bailey for fellow freshman after Rutgers’ loss
Ace Bailey and Rutgers Scarlet Knights' loss to Kennesaw State Owls has sparked reactions from fans. From questioning coach Steve Pikiell's defensive schemes to citing Cooper Flagg as a better overall player, college hoops fans are all over social media.
Bailey posted 17 points on 6 of 17 shooting in 32 minutes and committed a crucial turnover in the last eight seconds of the contest. His other five-star backcourt partner, Dylan Harper, scored a game-high 21 points (10-18) along with nine assists.
Rutgers never led or evened the score in the first five minutes of the contest, eventually falling behind a 79-77 score.
With that, fans have flooded X with a dismissive stance on Ace Bailey, urging Rutgers to appoint Harper as the main guy:
"Dylan Harper should be above Ace Bailey on every draft board right now btw," a fan wrote.
"YOU F**KING P***IES. GET THE BALL TO DYLAN HARPER.," another fan commented.
"That was my first time watching Dylan Harper he def the goods but I see why they want ace Bailey #2 he look like Brandon miller to me," another fan wrote.
More fans joined in to praise Harper's talent:
"Dylan Harper’s footwork is so so good. Very advanced for his age.," a fan commented.
"I keep telling yall ..Dylan Harper >>> Ace Bailey," another fan wrote.
"Dylan Harper should be in the convo for the #1 pick next year’s NBA draft. Ace is super talented but has so many bad habits.," another fan commented.
Steve Pikiell wants Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper to grow from the loss
In the post-game press conference, Steve Pikiell appreciated the impact Harper had late in the game, claiming that his plays helped Rutgers keep the game close near the final buzzer. However, he wants the freshman to take the loss as a learning experience and understand the details of playing in different environments.
"When you go on the road, it's a different ball game. You try to tell these guys that, but you have to live it too. We will live from this experience," Pikiell said.
When asked about Ace Bailey, Steve Pikiell claimed that a lot of his troubles stemmed from his foul troubles. Nevertheless, he encouraged Bailey to push through and fight through these hurdles.
"He had foul trouble and probably a lot coming here and home for him, but Ace is a good player. And you got to live through these opportunities and live through some of these experiences." (3:00)
"I have a lot of faith in him, and I want to make sure, that one of the big things he got to do for us is that he continues to rebound, and that's something he didn’t do a great job of tonight." (3:20)
Rutgers are now 4-1 on their season. Their next contest is against Notre Dame on Nov. 26.