Not really fair to make judgments on one season either way. All coaches have down years. Look at the blue bloods this year. Next year was always kind of a rebuilding year to me. Of course Houstan and Diabate committing bumped expectations up but there are plenty of scenarios next years team is “disappointing” because it isn’t top 10 or 15. If Dickinson is around I’d have to think we are at least top 25 but the guard play is gonna be a massive question mark
I think we’ll have another stressful off-season of spinning the wheel of attrition. Johns, Dickinson, Wagner, super-seniors like Brooks/Smith/Brown, incoming transfers at guard or center, etc.
If Johns and Dickinson both stick around and they add/keep a veteran guard it won’t be quite as dramatic…but the youth movement is going to be a change for sure. I’m more encouraged now than ever after seeing how these coaches have built this program into a complex force on both ends.
That being said, a lot of good players will (hopefully) be leaving the Big Ten this year, and if Hunter is back we’ll have the preseason favorite Big Ten POY. He’d be the only player with proven production on the team, but it’s better than nothing.
I meant more that we’ve now seen him do well with proven production and a proven system and with proven production and an unproven system. Next year will be a new kind of test to turn talent into production, which is where elite coaches like Izzo, Few, Wright, etc shine year in, year out. If it’s another good year, I’ll be pretty confident Juwan will end up in the conversation with coaches like that, but if it’s a down year I’m not saying that’s the end for him by any means.
Also do not underestimate the graduation of the scout team.
Both Beilein and Howard emphasized that in the interview on BTN. Definitely an underrated loss in terms of culture and preparation. Let’s just hope we don’t lose anyone from the coaching staff.