Why is Dylan Harper not playing tonight against Indiana Hoosiers? Latest injury update for Rutgers star (Jan. 2) 

As Indiana begins its Big Ten schedule and hosts Rutgers, it will not encounter one of the conference's top players.

Scarlet Knights freshman Dylan Harper will miss tonight's game against the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, which starts at 8:30 p.m. ET.

"Harper is feeling under the weather. He hasn’t practiced, he didn’t go to our shoot-around today, he’s feeling under the weather, hopefully he gets back soon," Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said in a pregame radio interview.

NJ.com reported that Harper is present at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall but is not in uniform; he was observed on the sidelines in street clothes during the team's warmups.

Harper's absence means Rutgers is missing a significant portion of its freshman-driven scoring power. Leading the Big Ten, Harper averages 22.8 points per game. The son of former NBA player Ron Harper also contributes 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

A former five-star recruit ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports, Harper is one of only two Rutgers players averaging double-digit points, alongside Bailey.

Rutgers adapts to Harper's absence

The Scarlet Knights will lean on freshman guard-forward Ace Bailey, who averages 18.2 ppg and is the only other double-digit scorer on the team besides Harper.

Without Harper, who logs an average of 34 minutes per game, point-guard duties will be distributed among senior Jeremiah Williams (2.2 apg), junior Jordan Derkack (2.7 apg) and sophomore Jamichael Davis (1.8 apg).

Additionally, Rutgers will rely on fellow freshman standout, 6-foot-10 wing Ace Bailey, to penetrate Indiana’s defense and create opportunities for the team's shooters.

Harper’s absence will also be felt on the boards, where he averages 5.3 rpg. Rutgers will look to players like Lathan Sommerville (4.0 rpg), Emmanuel Ogbole (3.9 rpg) and Zach Martini (1.8 rpg) to step up in rebounding.

The starting lineup for Rutgers featured Jamichael Davis and Jeremiah Williams in the backcourt, Ace Bailey on the wing, Zach Martini at power forward, and Manny Ogbole at center. Martini filled Harper’s spot, while Davis and Williams assumed primary offensive initiation duties.

Indiana, meanwhile, has the opportunity to improve to 2-1 in Big Ten play with a win over Rutgers.

Rutgers and Indiana are set to face off for the 18th time, with Rutgers holding a narrow 9-8 edge in the series. The Scarlet Knights have dominated recent matchups, winning nine of the last 11 games. In their only meeting last season, Rutgers defeated Indiana 66-57 at home, with five players scoring in double digits and securing a +11 advantage on the boards.