Even though we didn't finish, last seasons team won 23, year before 22. So you do not make too much sense.
So your "better than the last several UK seasons" is a little confusing.
21-22 season 26 wins
22-23 season 22 wins
23-24 season 23 wins (with wins over #9 UNC, @ UF, @#13 Auburn, Final 4 team #3 Alabama, @ #4 Tenn.
I will bet any amount you want to lose, we do not win more than last years team, or win as many big games. ( beat 4 top 10 teams).
Not that I am defending Cal, it is just this team this year has so many unknowns and will take time to adjust to each other. So do not act like the last 3 years WIN total (not tournament success) was a bad 3 year run. As a matter of fact, you picked the number 23 as wins we should get, but then say better than the last several years ?????? 23 is not greater than 23 or 26. Simple math.
"as good as last years BYU team" They went 23-11 / 10-8 in the Big 12.
Wins v/s ranked opponents :
#17 SD State
#24 Iowa State
#11 Baylor
#8 Kansas
1(ONE) win v/s a top 10 team. So do not be too quick to pretend that BYU last year was better than UK. I said UK will win 20-21 this year. I hope we win more than 23, but with the tough rebuild of the roster and new faces, I am not anticipating that. To me, a good year would be 20-21 wins, Sweet 16. Anything above that would be exceptional. My prediction has nothing to do with Mark pope, but having to do with the roster and tough SEC schedule.