It is called recruiting. Our dominance in recruiting diminished when Duke(Coach K) joined the OnD wagon and started getting the recruits we wanted. We, for the most part, got lesser rated players. Maybe that was because we had new coaches on the recruiting trail. Maybe our #1 class next year is because of our new coaches. One of which was with Cal from 2010-2015.
I think recruiting was the issue the OnD crap has hurt both UK and Duke and North Carolina. All are having issues.
We will rebound. Every roller coaster. Has its ups and downs we will survive the cycle