IMHO Holtmann benefited from having recruits from Matta that promulgate the culture for a few years, but right now seems to be on a downward trajectory.
His first year, definitely (recruits Matta didn't win with but still). His second year there were only two left, CJ Jackson and Andre Wesson. His best two years were in some order 2018, 2020, and 2021, so no, I don't think Matta recruits were holding up the program.
And IMHO you've stated this is "young team" b/c they start 4 sophomores and 1 senior.
They are a young team because they have one guy in the rotation who is an upperclassman and on the team last year, plus two more seniors from the transfer portal, one who starts, and six freshmen or sophomores. Wisconsin was fairly middling last year, and this year they have upperclassmen who were on the team last year. Magically, they are good now.
Purdue in 2007 had their leading minutes played by Moore (true frosh), Kramer (true soph) & Hummel (true frosh), and went 25-9, 2nd in conference, and made the 2nd round of the tournament. In 2008 their minutes were led by Moore & Hummel (true soph), Johnson was 5th (true soph), and Lewis Jackson (true frosh) was 6th contributing >20 mpg. They tied for first in the conference and went to the S16.
Well, right. Matt Painter is the best coach in the conference, and Robbie Hummel is one of the best players in Purdue history. Purdue is the best program in the B1G, at least right now. So yeah, that is what they are chasing. This would be like me comparing any random coach to Urban Meyer and OSU and wondering why they aren't as good as that.
Also, we are discounting the nature of the sport right now. A lot of guys playing are in their fourth, fifth, and sixth years of basketball. Every team can fill out its roster with veteran guys. This is a massive change that people still aren't taking into account to any appreciable degree, but does affect the sport. There is a reason everything looks a lot more random than it used to be, and it ain't just shooting three pointers. I'm not aware that "get old, stay old" is a Painter original, but regardless, every coach says it and wants it and now can get it. The game is different.