Painter is a good coach especially in December.
He uses a system that doesn't rely on guards breaking down defenses and making plays. A system that in many ways counter other teams normal habits. As teams become more proficient in floor play, which they will, those oddities will have less impact.
In tourney play, teams have to have guards that make plays because teams become more proficient at taking away post play. Ever notice they lose to better guard play every year? Like Swiss clockwork ..
As far as their mid major guards (that makes me laugh) Loyer is a baller, born to score. He'll be really scary, some day. Knuckle Dragger has game, a full PG kit, but he's still 5'11, not a good defender. That 6'5 upper torso on a 5'5 lower torso (lmao) helps him dribble because he's so low but I'm not sure it'll help him defend. Probably a bit top heavy. Right now they (the mid major backcourt) have it easy and only have to funnel into Edey.
Plus, Edey always plays drop coverage, mostly because he's unable to guard anything except the rim, there's a hole in the middle of their defense. Teams will become better at exploiting it .. the later it is in the season, the better teams become in proficiency especially floor game and shooting.
The least efficient play in basketball by percentage of success, is a post up on the low block. They rely on it to start action .. it's why they lose in March.