If Niang and Monte left early, there probably would have been similar levels of drop off we have had these past two years. People point out all the time that HS recruiting fell off the face of the earth for Hoibergs last couple seasons.Imagine this year if Horton/Haliburton/Wiggington were playing. Or imagine if Niang's junior year Georges, Monte and Naz all went pro and weren't there what kind of year it would have been.
Coaching is somewhat overrated, it's the players. CSP can get the players and without the early departures to the NBA or Covid it would be a different discussion.
A similar problem existed then that exists now. The recruiting is bad. Prohm has hit on some talented recruits early but those dudes left and they guys that didn't are either okay players or transfer out because they aren't good enough. The difference is those guys weren't early entrants and did stay but we knew we'd have a drop off once all those guys graduated.
Arguing that if those guys stayed for Prohm we'd be better is the same as giving Fred credit for deep runs that didn't happen because Babb sprained his ankle and Niang broke his foot.