I think you are perhaps losing your mind a bit. Either that, or you didn't sleep much last night and could use a nap.
We don't need "difference makers" to make the NIT or even the NCAA tournament next year. What we need are serviceable post players. If we had that this year, we'd probably have at least 4 or 5 more wins.
I think the biggest needs next year are having 4 regular scoring options on the court at all times in addition to someone who can play some post defense.
This offense runs so much more smoothly when the defense has to react to multiple players since it pulls the defense apart and allows our swing passes and cuts to create space and scoring opportunities. When the opposing team can ignore 2-3 players on the court and force TF, Black, or Kipper alone to beat us we simply can't win. This problem will likely be improved by adding Ayo and having our freshmen get 1 more year of experience which hopefully (crossing my fingers) will allow Smith and Williams to break out a big and become serviceable contributors on offense. Obviously adding any of Ramey/Jones/a transfer big would also do a lot to help this problem as well next year.
On the defensive side, improved defense by our soon to be sophs should help but what we really need is is a transfer big that can come in and play solid defense in the post to help prevent the easy 2 points that teams get when they break past our guards. Right now, Black gets in too much foul trouble having to be that last resort and Finke is borderline useless against more athletic post players. Ebo shows a lot of potential and will continue to help in the post as he improves but that 5th year transfer is going to be key for us moving forward if we want to win.
This year, while incredibly disappointing, was actually much closer to being acceptable than it would seem. We are clearly 1-2 players away from being a solid NIT team and about would be a possible bubble team with the added addition of improved play from our vast numbers of underclassmen. However, I still think we are another year off of the NCAA's without a significant influx of talent/improvement from our freshmen.