Zags run. Remember how it started. Zags to the Elite 8, then S16, then S16. They followed those years up with wins in the NCAA tournament in all but 2002 when they were ranked #6 but only drew a 6 seed and lost to Wyoming and 2007 when they lost to Bobby Knight Indiana team. Every other year they won at least ONE game in the NCAA tournament. They made the S16 at least FIVE times in the first 15 yrs.

They had numerous NBA players on those teams.. here are a few off the top of my head

Richie Frahm
Mario Kasun
Dan Dickau
Blake Step
Adam Morrison
Rony Turiaf
Jeremy Pargo
Austin Daye
Robert Sacre

That's 9 players that played in the NBA in the era you state had no NBA talent.