McDermott's last year...
Garrett - Otz guy, played in the NBA
Staiger
Gilstrap
Brackins - Otz guy, played in the NBA, 1st round pick
Hamilton - Otz guy, longest NBA career of this list
...was mostly Otz's guys and some professional-level talent.
Fred took the scraps of that team (one returning starter and what was left of its bench)...
Garrett
Christopherson - Otz guy, best shooter in school history by %
Anderson
Ejim - Otz guy, eventual CPOTY
JVB
...and had a better season.
Put together McD/Otz talent with Fred coaching and scheme, and good things happen.
You have to wonder about the short-term effect on the Diallo recruitment of losing Matt A, what this does to the transfer market (we have a heck of a reputation there) as Matt A owned it, but this looks good news for our recruitment of "traditional" high school talent. Long-term, assuming the rest of the staff can cover transfers (again, reputation), this should be an upgrade, really.
You can say this might say things about Otz waiting as "coach in waiting" and what it means for Fred at ISU long-term, but those concerns are outside of this hiring itself. Glad to have him back.