Agree with your points CRZI’ve said for years Cals decline is a product of 2 things.
1. High School players coming into College are not nearly as good as they used to be. AAU ball ruins them. They don’t work as hard in the weight room and usually can’t guard a lamp post. Depending on freshman rosters was not sustainable as the talent level declined.
2. Steph Curry….. with the advent of guys shooting much further out Cals dribble drive, take your man one on one was getting harder and harder. He wanted athleticism over shooting. The game changed and he didn’t.
I don’t think he completely got lazy. With these 2 things happening no coach could continue to win with young, athleticism. The blueprint was broke.
5* freshman went from Wall, bledsoe, Bam and those beasts to Boston, Edward’s and Collin’s.
Skinny runts that had zero toughness, no shooting ability and couldn’t defend.
I will add:
1. An 18/19 year old boy coming into college has neither the body or experience to compete with 22/23 year old men
2. AAU reinforces bad habits; no defense, no team play just 1 on 1, and lack of hard work. These kids all think they are the greatest player ever to Grace the court and only get their comeuppance when they arrive on campus. Yes there are exceptions (AD) but most of these kids must be shocked when practices/games begin. Give me a 22 year old 3* instead of an 18 year old 5*.
Good, not great, college players with experience who understand team play and have experienced the highs and lows.
Our present UK team is a great example of these points.