I honestly think the premise is a bit ridiculous.
Someone on Twitter posted: During Billy G's NIT season, we were 8th in the SEC. In 2021: Cal took us to the worst record in school history. We were 8th in the SEC.
As someone else pointed out: Pope finished 5th in the Big 12 with a lesser roster. I keep reading how the Big 12 is THE conference in college basketball. Yet he moves to the SEC with an improved roster and is going to fall 4 spots?
"Oh he's got a bunch of transfers that haven't played P5"
Welll.....
Tyler Kolek
Mark Sears
Grant Nelson
Baylor Scheirman
Dalton Knecht.
Several of the best players in college basketball came from smaller schools/conferences as transfers.
But...
Robinson played against the Big 12. Carr played against the ACC. Garrison and Oweh played against the Big 12. Kriisa played against the PAC10 and Big 12.
For years we've been slammed for a lack of experience. Now we have one of the most experienced teams we've seen in decades.
I'll be shocked if we're not top 4 in the conference. I think it's a top 15 roster. I think Pope is a better X's and O's coach than Calipari. I think we'll lose games. But we won't have near the frustration.