Rutgers basketball, without Dylan Harper, falls short against Michigan
Jerry CarinoPISCATAWAY – “Next man up” is a phrase college basketball coaches like to throw around when a shorthanded team has to go deep into its bench.
Rutgers basketball found itself in “next man up” territory against Michigan Saturday, and those next men could not quite make up the gap.
Despite missing star guard Dylan Harper (high ankle sprain), starting guard Jeremiah Williams (who played nine minutes before leaving the bench due to illness) and 6-foot-10 center Manny Ogbole (knee, out for the season), the Scarlet Knights pushed Michigan hard before falling 66-63.
“I wish we had everybody – that would be a luxury," junior guard Jordan Derkack said. "But nobody has everybody all the time. That’s college basketball.”
Rutgers (11-11 overall, 4-7 Big Ten) now faces a must-win situation against Illinois Wednesday in Piscataway as its NCAA Tournament hopes hang by the thinnest of threads.
Michigan (16-5, 8-2) constantly double-teamed Rutgers’ other freshman superstar, Ace Bailey, holding the 6-foot-10 wing to 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting after his 37-point outburst in Wednesday’s win at Northwestern.
There was no questioning the Scarlet Knights’ effort; they posted a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass and went plus-one on the backboards overall against a much bigger squad. They also recorded 13 steals and forced 17 Michigan turnovers.
“They were quicker to the ball and the glass," Michigan coach Dusty May said.
“It is tough when you feel like you do enough – 66 points for them, that should be a win for us," Derkack said. "At the beginning of the season we couldn’t rebound, and now we’re outrebounding big teams. We’re improving.”
But they turned those second chances into just six points and shot a meager 32 percent from the field overall, hoisting a whopping 36 3-pointers -- way more than they usually take.
“We weren’t able to finish today," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. "We took a lot of shots and they didn’t fall. Certainly when you get 15 offensive rebounds you would think you’d have better numbers in second-chance points.”
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
1. Davis, Acuff seizing opportunity
With Rutgers shorthanded in the backcourt, Jamichael Davis has broken through. After an eight-assist, seven-point, one-turnover effort at Northwestern, the sophomore guard came through once again Saturday, though in different form. As Michigan blanketed Bailey he took full advantage with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. And he was impactful in all aspects, tallying four rebounds, four steals and two assists while committing no turnovers in 30 minutes.
“Any opportunity you get, you definitely want to make the most of it," Davis said. "I’ll do whatever it takes to help my team win.”
Tyson Acuff also turned in a big week. After scoring 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting at Northwestern, the postgrad guard delivered another confident performance off the bench, scoring 14 on 5-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from downtown. Acuff also did a good deal of ball-handling against the Wolverines, helping take the load off of Davis, and committed just one turnover in 21 minutes.
This is the player Rutgers’ coaching staff expected to have before he suffered a broken foot in June and sat out three-and-a-half months.
2. Dusty May had Ace's number
Give the Michigan coach credit for doing what Northwestern did not -- doubling Bailey at all costs.
“You knew if we were going to get underneath him and load to the ball, then we were going to risk giving up some catch and shoot shots,” May explained. "It was a calculated risk – we said we were going to live with Davis and Acuff (shooting)…Obviously there’s a recency bias. We all watched the Northwestern game, correct? When you watch a performance like that you determine as a coach, ‘We’re not letting them do that again.’”
May was asked: If Harper is on the floor, how much does that change his defensive strategy against Bailey?
“It changes it drastically,” May said.
May's handiwork on Saturday and in general this season with much-improved Michigan begs the question: How did Indiana not hire the former Hoosiers manager after he guided Florida Atlantic to the Final Four? Instead the candy-striped pants are stuck with Mike Woodson, the worst coach in the Big Ten, and appear doubtful for the NCAA Tournament despite a massive NIL war chest.
3. Bryce Dortch hit the glass hard
After sitting out the first 19 games, the 6-foot-10 freshman turned in another glue-guy performance. He grabbed five rebounds in just nine minutes of action, and three of those came on the offensive end. That’s how you cement a spot in Pikiell’s rotation.
“Very unselfish, terrific athlete, really coachable," Pikiell said. "Keeps balls alive, and we can switch ball-screen coverage – he can switch and guard guards. With (Ogbole) being down, we needed another guy up front and he’s stepped up big time. I’m real happy and thankful that he came on board.”
Why didn't Dortch play more? In a game where Rutgers needed scoring, he's not there yet offensively. Twice, he got stuffed at the rim despite having good position. That said, Dortch's progress is worth watching the rest of the way.
4. Every seat taken
If there was an empty seat Saturday, it was hard to find. Yes, several hundred yellow-clad Michigan fans showed up and made themselves heard at times, but Rutgers fans continued to show they haven’t thrown in the towel despite the mounting losses and bad breaks.
Expect a similar turnout Wednesday when visit by Illinois (14-7, 6-5) tips at 8:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network).
During the postgame press conference, it was pointed out that Rutgers is 12-12 in its last 24 Big Ten home games. That stat is a reminder that even the best home-court advantages can only do so much.
5. Dylan Harper out again with injury
For the second straight game, Harper’s right foot was in a walking boot as he deals with a high ankle sprain. No timetable for his return has been given, but casual internet speculation that Harper is shutting things down is without merit. After trying to play through the injury, he's going to take the appropriate time to get right, and by all accounts remains heavily invested in the team's fortunes this season.
“He’s done everything he can to be back," Pikiell said. "Obviously he loves basketball and he wants to get back on the court with his teammates. But high ankle sprains are tough – you’ve got to let it heal and then get him back in the rhythm of practice. It’s not an easy injury. He’s still in his boot. We’ll keep trying to rehab him and do all the things we can do to move that thing forward. But high ankle sprains are tough to overcome."
Pressed about speculation that Harper is shutting it down, Pikiell was clear.
“He’s going to try to get back," the coach said. "He tried to play on it, so he’s going to try to get back as soon as he can. I wish I had a timeline on it. Need him back.”
The Don Bosco Prep grad is averaging 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists, but he was limited after spraining the ankle during Rutgers' Jan. 20 loss at Penn State. He went through a full practice later that week before reinjuring the ankle Jan. 25 just prior to the Scarlet Knights' loss to Michigan State at Madison Square Garden.
Harper tried to play through obvious discomfort against both Penn State and Michigan State. His snakebitten season also includes missing one game and struggling through two others due to a bad strain of the flu.
Rutgers has a record of 3-1 in Big Ten games with Harper at or close to full speed -- and 1-6 with him sidelined or limited.
It should be noted: Harper has remained fully engaged on the sidelines and with his teammates in the huddle. If the ankle doesn't heal in time for him to play again this season, it won't be because he threw in the towel Feb. 1.
“He’s been great, man," Derkack said. "Before he’s a great player, he’s a great person, a great teammates, whether he’s on the court of off the court. I’d rather have him on the court because he’s really talented. But he’s been great in the huddle. He has a great basketball mind and he knows what he’s talking about.”
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.