outstanding talent to compete with the top 20 when you limit yourself to UT-ID. Go look at the rosters of the top 20 teams and you'll find a broad shot pattern of recruitment.
And, yes, UT-ID is not a bastion of great BB talent. Go check out the Midwest, Southeast, SoCal, etc., if you want a large talent pool. The very small amount of elite talent here typically gets swept up by a big name P5 school.
How does St. Mary's continually kick our butt? Ten of it's 15 roster are from overseas; only 2 from California.
IMO Rose is not a bad coach, he's a lazy recruiter.