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    • Harper and Bailey shine, but St. John's manages to win
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    Harper and Bailey shine, but St. John's manages to win

    Kathleen William Posted on

    PISCATAWAY – It was just an exhibition game, but one thing seems abundantly clear about Rutgers basketball for the 2024-25 season: There is never a dull moment.

    Freshman phenoms Dylan Harper (20 points on 8 of 16 shooting) and Ace Bailey (25 points, 4 of 9 on 3 shooting) wowed the raucous crowd of 4,200 at Jersey Mike's Arena, but Rutgers showed its youth as the game wore on Time St. John's recovered and prevailed 91-85.

    Harper and Bailey delivered exactly what you would expect: highlight moments, big production and some rookie defensive mistakes. Perhaps most remarkable of all, they took the result hard in the locker room afterwards.

    “It's going to pay off down the line because I know how much the guys cared about this game and this game didn't count,” captain Zach Martini said. “We were angry. We thought we were the better team. We didn’t block well, we turned the ball over down the stretch.”

    The Johnnies rallied from a 13-point deficit and overcame a 22-0 run by the Scarlet Knights thanks to a powerful performance on the offensive glass and team dominance. Rutgers is ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25, but St. John's, which narrowly missed the cut, appears worthy of inclusion in the rankings. The Red Storm finished the contest with a 14-2 run.

    “It comes down to learning how to win,” said captain Jeremiah Williams. “In a close game, every possession counts, little details count. “We have a lot of new pieces, so it will take some time.”

    In the locker room after the game, Williams said, there was a vibe among the players “like it was a real game. We know we’re still 0-0, but we’re approaching it like it’s real.”

    FIVE TAKEAWAYS

    1 Rutgers bench, thumbs up

    Jordan Derkack and PJ Hayes aren't listed at top or second for Rutgers, but they were essential for the Scarlet Knights on Thursday.

    Derkack achieved the ultimate feat of adhesive engineering. The Colonia High School graduate and Merrimack transfer posted a team-high four points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks, mostly to relieve pressure on Williams, who had a rough outing. Derkack's spectacular first-half block on St. John's forward Aaron Scott, which prevented a quick counterattack as he came in from far behind, drew a standing ovation.

    San Diego transfer Hayes, the last player added to the roster in the offseason, was a model of efficiency: 13 points on 4 of 4 shooting from the field, including 2 of 2 from deep. He made all three free throws, had two assists and didn't turn the ball over once in 17 minutes. He also used the fake shot several times to freeze the St. John's defense.

    2. Kadary Richmond was strong

    Don't let the stats fool you: St. John's point guard Kadary Richmond (9 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 1 turnover) was the best player on the court when it mattered most. The Seton Hall graduate transfer was in full control on both ends in the final five minutes.

    “It seems like he's been in college a long time, and he's so talented and tall,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said.

    The showdown between Richmond and Harper did not materialize as expected as Richmond only played seven minutes in the first half due to foul trouble and Harper rarely defended it. Pikiell left that to Williams and junior winger Jordan Derkack.

    How valuable was Richmond to the Johnnies? When Rick Pitino pulled him for his second foul, St. John's led 17-8. Then Rutgers went on a 22-0 run.

    “He’s a good player,” Williams said. “That’s it.”

    Richmond finished the game with a plus/minus of plus-20, their highest mark of the game.

    “He’s great,” Pitino said. “I love coaching him because he does all the little things.”

    3. Surprise on the starting grid

    There was a bit of a surprise in the starting lineup when Pikiell sent out sophomore guard Jamichael Davis with Harper, Bailey, Williams and center Emmanuel Ogbole. That's three guards, a wing and a big, and St. John's took advantage by jumping out to a 10-4 rebounding advantage early, including four quick second-chance points.

    Davis finished the game with 9 points on 3 of 9 shooting, with 3 rebounds, 3 fouls and 2 steals in 27 minutes. It seemed like Pikiell was rewarding him for his offseason work ethic.

    “J-Mike, these guys will tell you, did he have a bad day at practice?” Pikiell said. “Really happy with how he’s gotten better in all areas.”

    Martini, Derkack and freshman Lathan Sommerville were the first to come off the bench, while Hayes and graduate guard Tyson Acuff rounded out the 10-man rotation. Acuff's appearance was surprising as he has only had a week of training after missing three and a half months with a broken foot. He looked rusty in his two-minute cameo.

    Freshmen forwards Dylan Grant and Bryce Dortch did not play.

    4. Tough evening for the three-man center

    Pikiell will field a three-headed monster in the center with the brutal Ogbole, the talented but rough Sommerville and the experienced Martini. The rotation there clearly needs some tinkering, as St. John's dominated the battle in the post with 6-foot, 220-pound junior Zuby Ejiofor (27 points, 13 rebounds), a much-improved player on Rick Pitino is at the top.

    St. John's went a plus-9 on the glass, including a 21-13 edge on the offensive glass, and outscored Rutgers 46-30 in the paint. Ogbole had problems with his positioning. It will be interesting to see how long he continues to get the starting signal.

    5. Mid-season atmosphere

    The fan turnout of about 4,240 was undoubtedly affected by the fact that the Mets and Yankees were playing in the championship series and the fact that it was televised on the Big Ten Network (with former Rutgers center Austin Johnson as an analyst). But it was still a huge crowd for a game that doesn't count, and the people who were there brought the intensity of the regular season.

    And the turnout for press row — 40 media members and 20 NBA scouts — was unprecedented at any game in the building. Not long ago there were games where you could count the reporters and scouts on one hand.

    Times have changed at the banks.

    Jerry Carino has been covering the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and college basketball since 2003. Contact him at [email protected].

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    Kathleen William
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