Two Michigan basketball players say they will 'absolutely' be back

Friday was a tough night for Michigan basketball fans.

For 28 minutes and change, it felt like the Wolverines were going to knock off top-seeded Auburn. However, the mistakes were too much to overcome, especially against a team that good.

The Tigers turned the tables with a 20-2 run and covered the spread with a 78-65 win. It was a frustrating way for an incredible season to end.

The offseason has arrived for Michigan basketball

Regardless of how you look at it, the first season under Dusty May has been a resounding success. The Wolverines won 27 games, made the Sweet 16, finished tied for second in the 18-team Big Ten, and will hang a banner after winning a Big Ten tournament championship.

Dusty May has proven he's one of the best head coaches in college basketball. He's taken two teams to the Sweet 16. The future is bright, especially after the Wolverines just signed a five-star recruit in Trey McKenney (No. 17), along with top-100 recruit Winters Grady (No. 84).

May is building something special. But the next few weeks will be critical. The Wolverines will have to replace likely two starters in the transfer portal and maybe more. We don't know what Danny Wolf or Nimari Burnett will do.

Dusty May said recently he expects Wolf to play in the NBA next season. However, two Michigan basketball players, Will Tschetter and Roddy Gayle, confirmed that they will be back. Each said they "absolutely" expect to play for the Wolverines next season.

That's good news. Each was a critical piece off the bench for the Wolverines. Gayle scored 26 points in the Sweet 16 win over Texas A&M. Tschetter is a solid big man off the bench who is also a stellar 3-point shooter.

There's a good chance Michigan will have Tre Donaldson, L.J. Cason, Gayle, Tschetter, and possibly Burnett back next season. That would be a good starting point, although nothing in the transfer portal era is set in stone.