The last three years have been hugely influenced by the extra Covid year. It was literally the worst time in college basketball history to try to win with elite high school one and done type players (which is Calipari's bread and butter). People want to blame his failings on NIL and the portal, and that is accurate to a degree. But it is mainly an issue because he didn't fill his roster up with 4th and 5th year players.
Kentucky "experience" ranks (per KenPom)
2024 - 196
2023 - 118
2022 - 187
2020 - 264
2019 - 284
2024 Elite 8 teams - Experience Ranking (median = 44)
UCONN - 68
Purdue - 67
NC State - 14
Alabama - 60
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Illinois - 11
Clemson - 25
Tennessee - 29
Duke - 197
1999 Elite 8 teams - Experience Ranking (median = 147)
Virginia - 107
Texas Tech - 90
Michigan St - 119
Auburn - 65
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Gonzaga - 20
Purdue - 176
Kentucky - 284
Duke - 351
This year, every team to make the Elite 8 was in the top-70 in terms of experience except Duke. If you go back to 2019, before the extra pandemic year, the teams making the Final Four were much less experienced. Note that this is in terms of ranking, not absolute experience level.
This tourney, UK lost by 4 to Oakland, who started two 5th year seniors and a 6th year senior. Last year, they lost by 6 to K-State, who also started three 5th year seniors. Those type of guys are all gone next year and the younger, more talented players will play a much bigger role. Cal has done better than anyone in securing those young talented players and has not lost his fastball at all in this regard.
Kentucky recruiting ranks:
2023 - 1
2022 - 9
2021 - 5
2020 - 1
2019 - 2
I'm not going to be surprised one bit when Arkansas starts reeling in top-5 class after top-5 class, and becomes a major pain in the ass.