Your expectations are unrealistic.
Commentators often state that Kentucky's fanbase is nuts and has a "win it all or you're a failure" attitude.
That's certainly not the case for 98% of the fanbase. There is the crazy 2%, however, that Joe B Hall and Tubby warned Cal about when he was first offered the job. You are in that 2%.
But back to the original discussion, Kentucky's defense, statistically, is good enough to be in the title discussion.
The 2012 team ranked 8th in adjusted defense.
This year's team ranks 7th, which is better than UCONN in 2014 (10th) and Duke in 2015 (12th).
Cal's worse defensive teams since he's been here were 2013 (90th) and 2016 (39th).
Which is why a NIT and a 2nd round loss resulted, Cal's worst postseason finishes at UK.
When the 2014 team lost to UCONN in the championship game, many thought the better team lost. Statistically, however, it should not have been a surprise, given UCONN had the 10th ranked adj defense and UK had the 32nd ranked defense.
Stats matter.
Only 1 out of the last 10 national champions ranked lower than 12th in adjusted defense, and that was 2009 North Carolina (22nd).