Rutgers likely has #2 and #3 picks in the '25 NBA draft and Rutgers may not even make the Big 10 tourney (bottom 3 go home)... let alone March Madness. Yes it's early still, things could change, blah blah blah.
But there was a LOT of talk that they were real contenders, pre-season top 25 ranked, etc.
I am obviously THRILLED, OVER THE MOON, ECSTATIC at AJ, Staton, coming to BYU. So I want to be clear that this subject line has NOTHING to do with them and how much they were compensated via NIL. I was / am all in on them. Particularly big believer that AJ is a game changer for the program, team recruiting legitimacy, etc.
Rather, the Rutgers lesson (so far) is just a reminder that TEAM CONSTRUCTION and experience matters a lot in college ball and that a big NIL budget doesn't necessarily mean success.
And as much as it pains me to say this, Kentucky is (so far) a great story in that regard...