Rutgers is off to a rough start in Big Ten play while relying heavily on two projected lottery picks, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper

Dylan Harper lugged his body up and down the floor at Jersey Mike’s Arena during the first four minutes of Rutgers’ crucial home game against Wisconsin on Monday, but the five-star freshman did not look like himself.

Wisconsin (12-3, 2-2) shot 53 percent from the field. With freshman forward Ace Bailey, who was just named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, unable to get going (9 points on 3-of-16 shooting, 7 rebounds, 5 fouls), Rutgers’ offense was dead in the water.

Dylan Harper’s absence for Thursday night’s game against Indiana was a game-time decision due to illness, but the Rutgers star is expected to return for Monday night’s game against Wisconsin in Piscataway,

It's important to have Harper in the lineup. He leads the Big Ten with 22.8 points per game. Along with fellow freshman phenom Ace Bailey, Harper has made Rutgers must-watch telev