Most of the time they won't. But after a year where the team lost almost every close game and went on a big losing streak, it's possible. This team can be "worse" and still have a better season. If last year's team would have finished closer to its ceiling, this year's team would definitely have a less successful season.
We lost a lot of close games last year but also dominated some really good teams as well. I don't think this upcoming team has the potential to beat Michigan State twice by double digits so in my mind a big win like that erases a close loss. Plus most inexperienced teams struggle to close out those close games and don't win on the road so I'm not expecting it to improve from last season. Long story short, we should have been better last year than what we were but our talent level is going to be down this year so I think it's hard to predict us to be just as good or better