Kansas State had one of their best players injured last season too.
We've pissed the bed two years in a row against hobbled teams that lacked any NBA guys while our team featured multiple lottery picks.
Was UK substantially better than WVU in 2010? Yes.
Was UK better than Wisconsin in 2015? Yes.
Was UK substantially better than Kansas State in 2018? Yes.
Was UK substantially better than Auburn in 2019? Yes.
You could make a case that 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2017 featured games against comparable talent, but we lost all of those games anyway.
To Cal's credit, he knocked off better teams in 2011 against Ohio State; 2014 against WSU and Wisconsin (Louisville and Michigan were a push).
Overall, however, and especially in recent years, when faced against teams of equal or slightly lesser talent, we aren't trending in the right direction.