Absolutely.
For starters, simply the hiring of Orr brought both an instant buzz and instant credibility to our MBB program. The man had been one of the best coaches (had coached Michigan teams deep into the tournament including a two Elite Eights and a Championship game in 1976) in one of the best conferences (hard to believe but, yes, the Big 10 was a powerful MBB conference back then) in the country during the 70s. McCarney certainly brought us buzz when he was hired...but only for his "issues" with domestic violence against his wife...not for his coaching pedigree. In McCarney we were hiring an unproven guy at the HC level.
Secondly, Orr's ISU teams had more success on the floor than did McCarney's on the field. The reality is that making an NCAA Tournament (64 teams out of about 300 during most of Orr's tenure at ISU) is a tougher nut that making a bowl game (roughly 60 teams out of about 120 during most of McCarney's tenure). Do I wish JO would have won more conference games...sure I do. But I am always reminded of just how incredibly tough the Big 8 was in MBB during most of the 80s and into the early 90s when JO was our coach...heck, in 1988 the NCAA Championship game was KU vs. OU. The same cannot be said of the Big 12 North that McCarney spent most of his time at ISU in...which, frankly, was horrid. Witness a Big 12 Championship game in 2005 where UT beat CU 70-3.
Lastly, look at what the respective programs did immediately upon each coach's departure. MBB took the proverbial "next step" while FB, as witnessed by many comments on this site, is back in another long rebuilding process. It should also be noted that JO, although relatively aged when he left ISU, had other job opportunities (notably Baylor) as a head coach. Whereas McCarney, while still quite young after leaving ISU, has not sniffed a head coaching opportunity...heck, he can't even get a coordinator slot.
Does that answer your question?
