this season. They've been tested this year & know how to recover in ways they just didn't experience in previous seasons. Too many who have been saying "this just isn't the same Zags team" — I think are influenced too much by what they remember of the two previous seasons only — & probably too much by just what they remember of last season. This is a DANG talented team they got right now. And even with the loss of Nembhard, are still a bit more experienced than they were last season.

Also, the current Zags were at their peak at the very end of the season — which often hasn't been the case in previous years. Holmgren's injury, for instance — while pretty much healed by the tourney last season — his absence while healing really affected the trajectory of their team last year. They were NOT as tough going into that — as they had been at points earlier in the season. Not per my eyes, anyways.