Is Coach Cal losing his luster at Kentucky?

For the second time in three years, a high-seeded Kentucky Wildcats team lost to a little-known opponent in the first round. Oakland University from Rochester, Michigan, isn't even the most famous Oakland in America. Yet the Horizon League champions took out the star-studded Wildcats, 80-76, thanks to DQ Cole's dagger three.

It's the third tournament in which Kentucky hasn't made it out of the opening weekend. Last year, the Wildcats fell to No. 3 seed, Kansas State, in the second round. In 2022, they lost to No. 15 seed St. Peter's in a huge first-round upset.

During that stretch, they've had no lack of NBA talent. Last year, Kentucky's Cason Wallace was the No. 10 overall pick in the NBA Draft. They have had at least one first-round pick every year since 2010. This time around, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are both expected to get picked in the lottery, though they combined to shoot 3-for-14 in Thursday's loss. Another top prospect, D.J. Wagner, went scoreless.

With all this talent, Kentucky still hasn't made the Final Four since 2015. In fact, they've only reached the regional final twice in the last nine years. They fell short in 2017 despite having three lottery picks in that year's draft and lost in the national semifinal in 2015 with four picks in that year's top 13 picks.

At a certain point, Calipari's stellar recruiting can't make up for some uninspiring in-game coaching. Perhaps at another school, the consistent high seeds would be enough, but at Kentucky, they're not used to waiting this long between Final Four appearances.

Calipari made four Final Fours in five years from 2011-15, winning a title in 2012, but he hasn't taken his team back since. Kentucky fans are disappointed.

Though not as disappointed as anyone hoping for a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket. After Oakland's upset, over 99 percent of all bracket entries are officially busted.

Coach Cal may not have seen this upset coming, but neither did anyone else.