Scarlet fever

After Monday’s news out of Chapel Hill, N.C., we’re thinking of everyone on campus, and of family and friends with loved ones in the area.

Here’s some basketball news as a distraction.

1. Bright days for Scarlet Knights

It’s become clear in the past few seasons that freshman-laded rosters aren’t the way to win a title. They’re often overmatched against experienced, COVID-developed upperclassmen, some of whom could be in their fifth or sixth season of college basketball.

Still, it’s hard to dismiss what Rutgers is doing with its 2024 class.

The Scarlet Knights already have Ace Bailey, a Top-3 player in the class, flanked by a pair of 3-star prospects in Lathan Sommerville and Bryce Dortch, both of whom are Top 150 recruits. And on Monday, Rutgers added yet another 3-star player in Dylan Grant.

Was it the Dylan Rutgers fans have been waiting for? No. (More on that in a bit.) But the 6-7 forward has size and athleticism and can guard multiple positions. He, Sommerville and Dortch are the quintessential Steve Pikiell players who cover ground on defense and should develop into solid players after 2-4 seasons.

The Michigan native gets to play in the Big Ten and sounds stoked about heading to Piscataway.

“I loved the vibe! Playing in the Big Ten has always been a dream of mine,” he told On3. “I feel blessed to have the opportunity to learn from the experienced coaching staff at Rutgers. Coach (Steve) Pikiell brings a wealth of knowledge in the game of basketball. I see their vision and I believe in it.”

As for the other Dylan … he’s looking more and more like he’ll also be in Piscataway.

Dylan Harper, the one-time top prospect in 2024, is currently listed as a Rutgers lock, per 247, Rivals, and On3. The 6-5 combo guard recently played with Bailey at a NYC event and has been linked to the Scarlet Knights for a while (helped by his brother’s time as a Rutgers star).

And if Harper does head to Rutgers? Well, it’ll truly be a test of roster building and whether freshmen can thrive — because that’s a recruiting class that would be poised for success.

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2. A pretty penny

We’ve seen plenty of headlines over the last year about how much money college athletes now make as a result of NIL. To some, it might seem like they’re professionals, making loads of cash for playing a game.

But here’s the annual reminder that college coaches remain the 1%.

USA Today released this salaries table earlier this year — it also covers overall college expenses, revenue and, college football coaches — which means you might’ve glanced at it. It’s 80 D-I coaches (private schools don’t have to disclose salaries), mostly in the Power 6 conferences, so it’s an interesting snapshot of what coaches made in 2022-23.

Notable points:

• 14 coaches made $4 million per year or more, and 6 were slated for $5M+. (Chris Beard was among them, but he’s contesting Texas’ decision to fire him for just cause.)

• Mark Few is listed at $1,877,687 and without any bonuses or other pay. That total probably isn’t his full income, but still. As a base salary, he’s just behind Utah’s Craig Smith ($1.9M) and just ahead of Cal’s Mark Fox ($1.7M). Incredible value.

• Kenny Payne’s $3,494,026 salary placed him 26th on this list, just ahead of Nate Oats ($3.4M).

• Steve Forbes is listed at $1,113,601, which would be a helluva bargain, but that’s a partial figure from when he was hired in 2020.

• Brian Dutcher made $1.3M. Seems like he could use a raise beyond the $1.4M he’s slated to make this season.

• Johnny Jones remains an amazing bargain. The Texas Southern coach made $275,000 — and has taken it to three straight NCAA Tournaments.

• But the best value is probably Randy Bennett. A longtime coach with multiple NCAA Tournament bids who is the thorn in Gonzaga’s side makes less than $1M? Good deal for Saint Mary’s.

3. ACC expansion talks continue

ACC officials spent the weekend discussing whether the league should add Cal, Stanford and SMU. That continued Monday, with the expectation that it’ll be approved sometime this week. “It could be done, but there’s work to be done,” according to ESPN.

Further, ACC presidents had a call scheduled on Monday night to discuss and possibly even vote on the move, but it was postponed following the on-campus shooting at UNC.

Previously, UNC, Florida State, Clemson and NC State weren’t in favor of the additions, but the revamped proposal that would add $72 million in annual additional revenue, mostly through the three new schools forgoing a majority of revenue distribution — SMU reportedly will go without for at least seven years — which frees up roughly $55 million annually for the existing members.

There’s also this angle, though, that four leaving does seem like a stretch. (At least right now.)

Expect the ACC to hammer out the details soon. College football officials meet in Dallas on Wednesday to discuss playoff expansion, and that’s where the big bucks start rolling in.

And if the ACC doesn’t add them? Well, Cal and Stanford reportedly want to join the Big 12. Because you know, it’ll just be an easy addition.

All the right moves

Memphis big man Malcolm Dandridge withdrew from the portal last week and announced he’ll head back to Memphis. If that seems a little late in the summer to decide on where you’re playing, you’re right. But coach Penny Hardaway’s also no stranger to making roster adjustments all summer, as you can see in this Offseason Grades video.

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Links as you meet the movers after waiting more than a week for them to arrive. (OK, maybe that’s just me.)

• USC coach Andy Enfield says they’ll “be patient” when it comes to Bronny’s return.

• Seton Hall added Malachi Brown, a 2023 guard.

• Good read here from CBS Sports on which on-court rule change should come to college hoops. The coaches weigh in.

• Jim Harbaugh doesn’t think the NCAA’s “current system is going to survive.“

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