Wisconsin is the flagship university in a larger state, bigger/nicer city, with more money, and firmly entrenched in a more prestigious/stable conference. They will always be ahead of ISU unless a coach here routinely gets ISU past Sweet Sixteens to Final Fours (before using ISU as a stepping stone to go to a bigger school).
You and 3rdGenStarter are just making my point ... CyForce (and others) seems to feel that if Hoiberg were to remain at ISU that I-State could eventually ascend to "perennial power status". His words - not mine.
He's not looking realistically at the program as it compares to others throughout the country. If Wisconsin is a notch ahead of I-State how many others are there?
I will say this ... Wisconsin's basketball status is due entirely to the Bo Ryan era .. some modicum of success before but nothing ever really consistent. I-State with the right coach can be in that status as well, in my opinion. But remember Bo Ryan was one year removed from a Division 3 head coach before he got the UW job.
Sometimes its not the sexy choice (i.e. Hornacek) but rather a solid, stable choice that fits the right style and culture.