Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment?

I don't expect anything, as a rule, with Michigan Basketball. Been burned way too many times for that. Just want to be pleasantly surprised.

If McGary is healthy by the time we have to play Arizona, or in the Puerto Rico tournament, whichever one comes first, then no, I don't think we're setting ourselves up for disappointment. He played like an All-American in the tournament, and could be one of the best players in the country this season. But again, that's if he's healthy. GRIII is moving more towards his natural position, and with another full offseason he should be that much better this time around, especially if he can start creating more of his own shots.

Yes, losing Trey will undoubtedly hurt, as well as THJ, but we've got Walton and Irvin coming in to help replace their production, two of the best HS players in America last year. And let's not forget about Albrecht. Neither Walton nor Albrecht are going to be as good as Burke was, but they don't have to be. We've got enough scorers on this team to help pick up the slack. Finally, this team went through the ringer last season in the tournament. They're battle-tested, and know what it takes to dig deep down to win ball games.

McGary is the x-factor this year. If he's healthy, we're right there in the discussion for a Big Ten title. If not, it's probably MSU's to lose.

Basketball is far different than football only a little talent will take u places and we have plenty of talent. Beilein has shown he can coach any group and with so many returning players we should be fine. The regular season and the big ten tournament wr a disappointment last year so I don't see how we can have over expectations. All I want is a top three finish in the big ten an appearance in the big ten tournament final and a sweet sixteen all this is very realistic and I think we can exceed this

i have high hopes for basketball. Goal is single digit losses and a sweet 16 appearance.

Being a fan of sports is generally one big disappointment. Unless you're a fan of the Yankees, then you probably won't see many championships in a lifetime by your beloved teams. I'm guessing around 95-99% of seasons end in heartbreak or disappointment. I'm a UM Football fan, 1 championship in my 29 years. UM basketball 1 in 29. Chicago Bears 1 in 29. Cubs 0 in 29. That's 3 Championships in 116 opportunities (seasons). Add to the fact that I was 1 when the Bears won and 5 when UM basketball won, and I've really only gotten to experience complete sports satisfaction one time in my life (97 UM Football). Being a fan is a rough ride. The loss to Louisville really hurt; but you have to pick your battles. Winning against rivals, seasons of improvement, and sustained success are all things that can occur without a championship at the end.

beginning. No f-ING idea. Trey Burke won a lot of games. Spike is ok but not quick on D, defense will get burned in the backcourt until the freshmen prove themselves.

If it wasn't for disappointment I wouldn't have any appointments.

At this point it comes down to me having a lot more faith in our basketball coaching staff.

Morgan, Horford, LeVert, GR III, McGary and Albrecht. Stauskus also. I think we'll have a decent year and possibly another good run. To the title game again won't be easy and I don't see it happening but I can see us in the final four again with the talent were bringing back. The question is how well will Spike do with the absence of Burke?

National Championship. They ended up being very good, but did not make the final four. This year, many UM football fans expected us to go undefeated and play for the National Championship. High expectations, that is what we as fans often have. As for myself, I expected the football team to go 8-4 this year and I hope that we can still do that. I am very much looking forward to the basketball season and I think we will have an excellent team. I don't expect us to equal last years success. I do think we can reach the sweet 16.

If people already looking forward to basketball and want football to be done, then said people have turned into the likes of Sparty fans.

Sometimes it feels like the only thing some of you people love more than complaining about Michigan athletics is watching Michigan athletics lose so that you can claim your complaints are justified.

I'm just saying, this has been the most "Sparty-esque" week on the blog that I can recall.

You are going to be disappointed.  I mean, most of the time that doesn't happen, even for long term powers.

And it's going to be tougher this year than last. How many of the teams in the Tournament really had a lot more talent than Michigan? Hardly any.  This year was a better year for seniors, and you have a lot more really good one and down type guys. Kentucky, Kansas, a few others....if we play just as well as them in a game we lose. They just have bigger upside players. It's not that we can't beat one of them. They could play badly; we could play exceptionally. It's just that we'd need a lot of them to play badly and get bounced to get past them all (whether we beat them or someone else does). Last season was not an exceptional year for talent in the NCAA. We might have had as good of talent as anyone; we were at least close.  That's why losing last year hurts....you don't know when your talent base is going to align with the college basketball landscape again. We could be really good in a great year (like this year) or we couldn't not have a super great team in a year when the rest of the teams are down. Last year was a good match, we just fell a tiny bit short. Again. Sigh.