The biggest difference from the 2017 team is defense (2017 team was 45th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency, this year's is 279th). Part of that is the experience factor, but most of it is individual talent -- Stephens and Cook were the two best wing defenders in the league that year, Bell was a plus defender, and Weisz had good hands and instincts. This year, only Jaelin is a clearly above-average defender (and I don't think even he's elite), and what they have in size on the wings is offset by a lack of speed.
I'm a lot more reminded of the 2019 team, which started 4-0 with some close wins but ended up 8-6. I don't think that will happen this year with Jaelin returning and no other great teams, but with seven road games remaining it's not out of the question.
The biggest difference from the 2017 team is defense (2017 team was 45th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency, this year's is 279th). Part of that is the experience factor, but most of it is individual talent -- Stephens and Cook were the two best wing defenders in the league that year, Bell was a plus defender, and Weisz had good hands and instincts. This year, only Jaelin is a clearly above-average defender (and I don't think even he's elite), and what they have in size on the wings is offset by a lack of speed.
I'm a lot more reminded of the 2019 team, which started 4-0 with some close wins but ended up 8-6. I don't think that will happen this year with Jaelin returning and no other great teams, but with seven road games remaining it's not out of the question.