You're clinging to a dead model. The portal is the new recruiting, and ignoring it is how you get left behind. Colorado and Oklahoma State are extreme, but smart programs use the portal to fix roster holes instantly. Real culture is built by winning, and winning now requires supplementing your high school class with proven players. That ESPN piece mentions your program, but it won't mention your win total if you're getting out-talented by teams that aggressively use the portal. The teams that last are the ones that adapt, not the ones that just hope their three-star development projects pan out.