When Rutgers freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey arrived on campus as the two highest-ranked recruits in program history, there was immediate optimism that the Scarlet Knights could not only reach the NCAA Tournament for the third time this century.

At 15-17 and projected well outside the bubble, Rutgers’ tournament hopes were dashed following a 97-89 loss against USC in the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.

With Rutgers’ season coming to an end, it marks one of the biggest what-ifs in NCAA history. Previous teams with two top-five recruits had a history of competing effectively in the NCAA Tournament, yet the Scarlet Knights’ roster failed to convert their talents into success this season.

As it stands, this disheartening conclusion places Rutgers among notable programs that struggled despite having top-tier prospects, including instances of significant underachievement in NCAA history.