Can we be better next season?

1.  Matthews comes back, becomes a better outside and FT shooter

2.  Simpson improves his shooting, FT's, and less turnovers.

3.  Livers makes a leap up and become a reliable scorer

4.  Poole becomes a major part of the offense - especially from 3.

5.  Teske improves his scoring and rebounding

6.  Someone at guard steps up (Brooks, one of the freshmen) to provide good bench depth.

7.  At least one of Johns and Brazdeikis becomes a major contributor.

(I'm assuming Wagner goes pro.)

I don't know about next year, but the year after this team could be in the Final Four  again.

I'm skeptical at this point, given that we lose DR and Rahk - esp Rahk - that dude has 1 TO per game playing 38 mins per game. I think the TOs go up w/o him taking up 38 mpg. That's not even accounting for Mo and or Mathews leaving some big holes offensively that this M team really needed these last 2 months.

Sure, it can happen but it's gonna be a very young team that will struggle with JB's offense, TOs, so let's hope the D stays where it si

Or we need our freshmen to come in and immediately contribute. We weren't a good shooting team this year. Beilein can draw up an offense to get you open, but he can't make the shot for you. If Simpson could find a half-way decent shot this team would be eons better. If Matthews could find an outside shot this team would be eons better. If Teske could develop a mid-range game it would help. If Livers becomes more assertive, if Poole becomes more consistent, etc. 

I don't see this team being very good to start the season, and many people (probably myself included) will gripe and moan, but this team could make another run come March.

So we don't go over on scholarships?

I think we'll be good, but your two comments about Teske / Moe and Livers / Robinson swaps improving the defense are not necessarily true. Teske helps with rim protection but his feet are slower than Moe's, so therefore he can't get out as quickly on stretch 5s (like he had to last night). Also, Robinson improved greatly on post defense over the course of the year. Wasn't nearly the liability it was at the beginning.

You know how I know these aren't necessarily improvements? Because they weren't made this season. 

masked a lot of issues with scoring efficiency, a typical Beilein-team staple. We had only three scorers last night along with Poole's and Teske's minimal contributions.

If Michigan is to grow as a team, Teske is going to have to play a bigger role. He has has to become more than a defensive rim protector. That status will change or not depending on what Moe decides.

But Teske showed great growth. At times, he was  a highly dependable offensive player when called upon offering a glimpse of his future with very positive contributions in keeping possessions alive with his passing, putbacks and rebounds. He needs to become a scoring threat down low because I don't see him as a roaming seven-foot jump shooter behind the arc.

If he can become an effective pick and pop, and pick-and-roll post, like Morgan became, highly efficient around the basket, then you can almost afford to have him in the game at the same time as Simpson.

The only way next season can be "better" is winning the national title. While we bring in some great recruits, there's no one replacing Wagner, so the answer to "can we be better?" is: maybe? probably not.

then the outlook is brighter right of way. You have a situation that you would have had this year at the beginning if DJ Wilson had played. This year's team would have been awesome in an even more enhanced defensive way given Wilson's length and ability.

You put together this year's squad with Wilson in the front court and then DiVencenzo is guarded by DJ, and he can't deal with his size and length, and his shot gets blocked at the cup.

What a difference one guy makes sometimes. But that's been Beilein's history at Michigan, developing guys for quicker growth than anyone anticipated and watching them leave for their pro future one to two steps ahead of their classmates. It's not about our amusement or entertainment, though, it's about getting ahead in life, establishing your place in the world and making it. Can't ever lose sight of that.

But you wonder what if.....in one more shining moment of opportunity things might be different.

If Mo comes back, we should be better. I see Poole stepping in and becoming a top scorer with Matthews and Simpson the elite defenders at the guard spot. Livers at the 4 and Mo back at the 5...Plus the depth should be better with the talent of the freshmen and the current freshmen gaining another year. I see Poole breaking out big time next year. 

Its incredibly hard to make it to the championship.  We can be better for sure but doesn't necessarily mean we win the B10 or advance to championship.

I seriously think we will be better next year. Unfortunately it will be pretty damn hard to be more successful than this year though. Pretty much the only way to be more successful would be to win the NC, which I hope we can do.