Rutgers moves on without Harper and Bailey, turns page with deeper team looking to make up ground

Rutgers wrapped up practice Tuesday with an unclear rotation, but a clear goal of returning to NCAA Tournament. (Photo by Jaden Daly/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Last season, Rutgers embarked on its most anticipated men’s basketball season in program history, with a pair of top-ranked recruits in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey destined to lead the Scarlet Knights back to the NCAA Tournament after not making the 68-team field in each of the prior two years before their arrival.

For several reasons, the fairytale ending never came, as both Harper and Bailey battled injuries at various points during a year in which Rutgers limped to the finish line with a second straight 15-17 record, the first time New Jersey’s state university finished under .500 in consecutive years since 2018-19.

The hype — and the megastar talent of Harper and Bailey, drafted this past June by the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz, respectively — has come and gone on the banks. But in its place stands a group that is molded more in Pikiell’s image, a deep, blue-collar outfit that enters the coming year eager to reverse recent fortune and return Rutgers to its third foray with March Madness this decade.

“I like my group,” Pikiell told a throng of reporters Tuesday. “We’ve worked very hard, we’re the most physical we’ve been, guys are in great shape. They’ve been working, they’re very coachable, we’ve got some great freshmen that I’m excited about. I feel good. We’re undefeated right now, but we’ll be challenged.”

“It’s tough to be young in the oldest time in college sports. I learned that last year. I like this group, though. We’ve got a good blend and we’re stronger. We’ve got good bodies. These dudes are built to hit people, they’ve been going at it in practice. You gotta be real physical in this league, and I think we’ll get back to being that.”

Harper and Bailey may not be around, but the Scarlet Knights are by no means inexperienced. Junior guard Jamichael Davis is the team’s de facto leader on paper, having been in the program the longest. Center Emmanuel Ogbole is back as well, and so too are sophomores Dylan Grant and Bryce Dortch, of whom Pikiell was pointedly complimentary following a spirited Tuesday morning practice.

“I spent a lot of time with those guys in the offseason,” Pikiell said of his incumbent players. “Dylan Grant’s really been putting the ball on the deck, he’s got a chance to be really good, and Bryce does a lot of things for us. They’ve gotten stronger and bigger. They’ve been through it.”

Davis, in particular, was heralded for his ability to take charge while also competing for his own playing time alongside NJIT transfer Tariq Francis and highly touted freshman Lino Mark from Los Angeles. George Washington transfer Darren Buchanan, Jr., a jack of all trades, can also handle the ball, underscoring Pikiell’s confidence in a Rutgers unit whose depth was largely absent last season.

“He’s been awesome, too,” Pikiell said of Davis, who appears to have an inside track at being named a team captain even if the coach declined to tip his hand on that matter. “And he’s an everyday guy. He’s not missed one practice since we’ve arrived. I call out plays and he knows them, he knows our defense, he’s a good leader and he’s tough as nails. But I love our point guard position. Riq’s been great, he’s been an everyday guy, Lino is as fast as we’ve ever had at that spot and Lino’s highly recruited. Those guys are competitive, but J-Mike has been a good student, he’s been a good example. I haven’t named anyone captain yet, but he’s got all the good qualities and he comes to play.”

“We have 14 guys competing for minutes, which I like. Last year, if a dude or two were out, it changed our practices. We didn’t have that kind of depth, we didn’t have those kinds of things. Now we’ve had guys miss practice and we don’t flinch. Depth is important for us. We can fight through it a little bit more.”

Aside from Mark and Las Vegas native Chris Nwuli, who has already made a name for himself on the defensive end — Pikiell’s calling card — through the summer, four other first-year players arrive in the Garden State with the expectation of being integral rotation pieces. Kaden Powers will see some minutes in the backcourt while Gevonte Ware likely backs up Ogbole in the middle. A pair of Europeans complete the quartet, with Romanian Denis Bǎdǎlǎu and Bosnian Harun Zrno, who decommitted from Indiana, also likely to see significant opportunities to contribute. Arkansas transfer Baye Fall will also vie for minutes up front, a former McDonald’s All-American who becomes the third such recruit to land at Rutgers in the wake of Harper and Bailey.

“If you add the two foreign guys, this is a Top 25 recruiting class,” Pikiell reassured. “We got another McDonald’s All-American (Fall). We ate at McDonald’s a lot my first year, but we didn’t get a lot of McDonald’s All-Americans. We’ve gotten three now in the last two years. I know the world is about now, and we gotta get back to the NCAA Tournament. I’m confident that we can do that.”

“We’ve got a lot of competition. We have no starters right now, and I like that. Those guys are competitive, they’re multi-position guys. We’ve got a big-time defender in (Darren) Buchanan who we haven’t had, we’ve got a big-time defender in Chris Nwuli who we haven’t had. The competition and what they can do, now can we gel them all and can they keep competing? This team has to be a “be together” team, but we’ve got pieces.”

Pikiell bristled slightly at the questions of being able to take Rutgers back to the highest level after producing a pair of Top 5 draft picks and coming up short a year ago, highlighting that he had taken Rutgers dancing with teams comprised largely of underrated prospects such as Geo Baker, Ron Harper, Jr., Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy. The veteran coach understood the win-now mindset that has been accelerated in college basketball with the nature of the transfer portal, but quickly reminded everyone that the build has remained consistent and admirable.

“We’re Rutgers basketball,” Pikiell reiterated. “We play in a great league. We gotta get back to the NCAA Tournament. I know no one wants to hear about the past. It’s all about this year and getting to the NCAA Tournament. I got it, I understand. But we continue to do things the right way and continue to build a good program.”

“Before I had Dylan and Ace, we went to the NCAA Tournament. I wish those guys were still here. Year two with those guys would have been awesome, but they’ve moved on to greener pastures. The stars don’t matter. You’re in a league that’s a monster. We did it before and we gotta get back. I’m confident, even in this landscape.”

Gardner-Webb welcomes Brendan Fahey as new AD

Gardner-Webb introduces Brendan Fahey as new athletic director Tuesday. (Photo by Gardner-Webb University)

By Jacob Conley (@gwujake)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — There is a new Dawg in town.

Gardner-Webb University introduced Brendan Fahey as its new vice president for athletics and athletic director Tuesday, replacing Andrew Goodrich, who took a similar position at Akron. Fahey comes to GWU from Wagner College in New York, where he spent over a decade rising through the ranks of the Seahawks’ athletic department before replacing his mentor, Walt  Hameline, at the helm on Staten Island.

“Gardner-Webb offers great opportunities both personally and professionally,” Fahey said. “This is a part of the country where we want to live and raise our daughters. Professionally, I could see from the moment I stepped on campus that Gardner-Webb is a special place. The facilities are incredible, but what has impressed me most is that the people have been so friendly and welcoming. I can’t wait to get started and accomplish some big things.”

Fahey inherits a Runnin’ Bulldog program on the rise. Since 2019, GWU has won Big South Conference championships in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football (twice), men’s soccer and men’s tennis. So far in 2025, the men’s soccer team is 5-0 and ranked seventh in the latest national Associated Press Top 25 poll, while football is receiving votes in the latest FCS rankings.

“What the men’s soccer and football teams are doing right now is incredible,” Fahey said. “I can’t wait to see what they do in the rest of their seasons. The thing is, every other program on campus has that same potential. My big thing when I work with coaches is that I want to provide them with a path to success. With each sport, that path will look a little different, but the end goal is the same and that is to win.”

GWU does not currently support a NIL collective, but Fahey says that could be one of the stepping stones on that path in the future.

“It’s possible,” he said. “Right now, it’s more important to be listening and learning. There is a great foundation in place and we do want to take things to a higher level, but we have to do it in a way that makes sense for the university as a whole. We have to do our due diligence before making any decision long-term like that, because the NCAA and the games are changing all the time.”

With the changing landscape of college athletics, Fahey adds that he will try his best to keep GWU on sure footing as it walks along the path and climbs higher.

“Health in any athletic department or university starts with a strong culture,” he said. “We have that strong culture. Now it’s my job as athletic director to advocate for the resources needed to compete at a high level, win championships and have the best student-athlete experience possible. We also have to realize that the state of college athletics is very fluid right now. We have to judge every decision not only through the lens of athletics, but what is best for the institution as a whole.”

Fahey is ready for that challenge, however.

“I’m so excited and ready to go,” he said. “There are a lot of great people and so much potential here. I can’t wait to get to work.”                                

FDU officially raises curtain on 2025-26 with spirited first practice

Head coach Stephanie Gaitley (first from left) instructs her FDU players during Knights’ first official practice of season. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

TEANECK, N.J. — The day after Labor Day is usually centered more on the beginning of a new school year and the start of college football. However, that is not entirely the case for everyone.

Many college basketball teams used shooting and rebounding drills to mark the unofficial end of summer, with roughly two months before the start of a new season. FDU, fresh off its undefeated Northeast Conference campaign punctuated with a championship trophy, held its first official practice of the year on Labor Day, leaving those in attendance with the feeling that season is truly upon us.

Prior to the formal start of practice, the opportunity was there to speak to several players casually. Those brief conversations helped reinforce the influence of a coach. A good coach does more than win games. He or she goes beyond the record by making a lasting mark on their players.

Freshman Leah Crosby spoke of Joe Whalen, who

coached her during her first two seasons at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Jersey prior to his retirement.

“That’s my guy,” a smiling Crosby said of Whalen. “He would always reference his days at St. Rose (in Belmar) when he wanted to point something out. He was a great coach.”

Joi Johnson is a sophomore forward. Her father, Will, was a 6-foot-8 double-double machine, averaging 10.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for a Saint Joseph’s team that reached the final of the National Invitation Tournament in 1996. Joi pointed out that her father talked a lot about that NIT run, but more importantly, about Phil Martelli, the longtime St. Joe’s head coach who was in his first year at the helm on Hawk Hill three decades ago.

“He always talks about Coach Martelli,” she said. “He has some funny stories, but a lot of what he says is about how great a coach (Martelli) was.”

Such was the impact Martelli had, which still resonates with a former player three decades later.

Shortly prior to the start of practice, FDU assistant coach Nikki Carter distributed the practice plans. At the top was the year’s emphasis: PASSION WITH A PURPOSE, a longtime tenet of head coach Stephanie Gaitley’s programs and fixture of her Fordham teams of the early 2010s. The plan included the drills, as well as who would comprise the two teams. There were also three shooting groups, with a list of the players in these groups.

Some similarities from summer workouts were present. Following the mandatory stretching, practice began with the three-line, full-court drill of pushing the ball and shooting with no defense. Another similarity was that drills were approximately four minutes in length, timed and progressed in an orderly fashion. A big difference in this practice was most of the work was on certain things.

“This is the time you start working on specifics,” Gaitley said.

The season may start in November, but there is no better time to begin incorporating what you will face during the campaign. Gaitley and assistant coach Ty Rozier observed and instructed on one end of the floor. Carter and fellow assistant Jeremy Thompson did the same on the other end. Given FDU’s propensity for good defense, it was no surprise that defending different types of screens took up several drills. Just as in the summer, at certain times, one of the players was sent to the line for a free throw. If she missed, her team ran.

FDU works on its screen defense. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

Work against full-court pressure was something not noticed during the summer practices. Press offense and press defense were worked on. An encouraging sign was the offense trying to beat pressure by passing rather than dribbling. Following offensive drills for guards, then forwards, it was all brought together with a short half-court, 5-on-5 session. Naturally, the defense was playing man-to-man.

A few observations:

Given this was the initial workout following a month off, everyone returned sharp and in good condition. Bella Toomey showed some nice post moves inside. The 6-foot-2 junior can hit from outside, but any contribution scoring-wise in the paint will be beneficial.

Bella Toomey (3) displays shooting range during 5-on-5 drills. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

Her Hoop Stats noted that Kailee McDonald scored 80 percent of her points last season from 3-point range. The sophomore guard showed a nice touch from beyond the arc during practice, but has expanded her game.

“She worked hard during the summer putting the ball on the floor,” Carter said of McDonald. “She has improved at getting to the basket, and it’s going to be really hard to get her off the floor.”

Speaking of Her Hoop Stats, the site also told us Ava Renninger used 24 percent of FDU’s possessions when she was on the floor. That figure ranked second behind Teneisia Brown’s 27 percent. Brown transferred to Providence in the offseason.

Watching Renninger, especially in transition, it is difficult to remember that she is only a sophomore, and her usage rate may increase this season.

Leah Crosby continued to work hard rebounding and being effective on the defensive end. She was vocal on defense, an admirable trait indeed.

Lilly Parke, out with an ACL injury, kept time for the drills at the scorer’s table. Parke said her rehab is going well. She has maintained a good attitude, often encouraging her teammates during drills. Teaching and stoppage for instruction was being done more frequently than in the summer workouts. No surprise there, as a number of things were covered in this two-hour session.

The practice would conclude with free throw shooting. The end of practice is a great time for the group to shoot from the line. In late-game situations, you will visit the charity stripe in a state of fatigue. Why not get used to that scenario in practice?

Following practice, players mulled about for a few minutes, making small talk before exiting. Gaitley reiterated something her husband Frank told me earlier.

“We are looking to get some guys, maybe from the baseball team, to practice against the team,” she said.

The idea of utilizing a male scout team that has prior playing experience is something frequently practiced in the women’s game. The idea is to expose the players to more physicality than they might see in daily workouts. Without delving into specifics, the feeling among the staff was that it was a good workout. Naturally, there would be things to address and adjust.

Exiting the Bogota Savings Bank Center, one was greeted (ambushed?) with another day of heat and humidity, a contrast to the bygone days when practice began during the crisp, cool days in the middle of fall, on October 15 with an opener six weeks away. The cliche regarding the season rings true: It is a marathon, not a sprint.

These days, the same can now be said regarding preseason practice and preparation.