Kentucky under Cal has really had two separate eras. 2010 to 2015 and 2016 to now. It’s been a constant and solid slide downward since our loss to Wisconsin. And it’s a number of things.
One, Cal isn’t getting the guys he used to. K, Self, and and even schools like Memphis are getting top 3 players. Caliparis three best seasons at Kentucky are when he had the number one pick in the draft. No coincidence there.
Two, the stigma that if you aren’t good enough for the NBA after one season at Kentucky, you will get recruited over and have to transfer. Freshman come to Kentucky and expect to be stars as freshman no matter how good they are. They see themselves as a failure if they can’t get drafted after season one, and figure the next crop will come in and take their spot. It’s a horrible mindset to have as a player.
Three, we are losing 7 or 8 guys a season at this point. To the NBA ready, not ready, and to transferring. Cals had great seasons and they all had returning sophomores or juniors and occasionally seniors. We have one sophomore this year. One player on this entire roster that played for Cal last season. That’s not going to get you very far most years.
So yea, I don’t see it getting better. The lava finally boiled over the volcano, and it might be time for Cal to move on.