Long-term success is built years in advance; one quick instance to refer back to is that of the Oklahoma City Thunder. After years of trading for draft picks and seeing the exodus of their best players, the Thunder now have one of the most dominant teams in the NBA and are poised for a real chance at back-to-back NBA Championships.
Yet, in the NBA, things are a bit more settled; the rhythm of the league eventually takes over, and teams can learn how to maneuver their way to the top. Meanwhile, in collegiate basketball, it feels like the wild west with constant coaching changes, the one-and-done rule, and the ever-miring transfer portal.