I don’t think Calipari has ever really diverted from his OAD freshmen dominated model. He dabbled in the Graduate Transfer market (and “excused” that by saying it wasn’t the same as stealing players in the transfer portal), but only as a last (desperate?) resort.
Regardless, Calipari and any other coach is going to be better with the “best players.” If you define the “best players” as those that have the biggest impact on winning games, then upperclassmen are generally (and overwhelmingly) the best players in CBB.
What’s important is production. Experience improves production and talent places a limit on it. So, when you’re talking about still developing players, especially in a one year scenario, the player with the most talent is not necessarily (or even usually) the best player. In the short run (e.g., one season), current production beats talent.
But I do think if you had a talented freshmen or two in the starting lineup whose skill development level was already pretty good or was a great rebounder/shot-blocker, etc., then that could work out if the other three starters were upperclassmen that can carry the offense and take the pressure off the freshmen.
