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One of Maryland's best seasons in the past decade ended on a sour note Thursday and with uncertainty surrounding the future of its head coach.
Kevin Willard revived the hype in Maryland. After a disappointing 16-win season in 2023-24, the Terrapins went 24-7 in the regular season with the "Crab Five" lineup that was one of the best offensive units in the Big Ten — and nationwide. A buzzer-beating shot by Derik Queen got the Terrapins into the Sweet 16, and Maryland looked like it could give No. 1 seed Florida trouble in the first half Thursday. Willard could continue this spectacular season with the team's first Elite Eight trip since 2002, the same season the Terrapins won their lone national championship.
However, the Gators chomped down in the second half en route to their ninth straight victory, and Maryland exited stage left.
Soon, it could be Willard doing the same thing out of College Park.
"I don't know what I'm doing," he said after the 87-71 loss. "I haven't talked to my agent. I haven't talked to my wife. I made a promise to this team that I was gonna just focus on this team, and that's all I've done. So, I haven't talked to anybody."
Willard has been rumored to be a strong candidate for the Villanova job. For all we know, a deal could already be in place or be done hours from now. It also could all have been a ruse to get a better deal to stay with Maryland or generate more NIL funds.
He said he has no idea if Villanova has made an offer for him. His agent may have been talking to people, but Willard added he doesn't know anything about any possible conversations.
The mess all started before Maryland played its first game of the tournament. Willard called out former boss Damon Evans, who bolted to Southern Methodist, and then the head coach blamed the media for the speculation over whether his time in College Park was coming to a close.
Willard said one of his "biggest concerns in life right now" is he doesn't know who his next boss will be, with the athletic director position open.
Fans sure haven't been happy with their head coach, and it was evident when the team left its hotel to head to Chase Center on Thursday. In a moment where loyal supporters should be cheering on their squad to victory, some booed as Willard made his way through the crowd. Other videos on social media showed fans at bars shouting some NSFW chants when the head coach was shown on the big screen.
Willard said he understands the displeasure because he's in "limbo," but he said he feels the same way.
"I'm kind of pissed, to be honest with you, because I didn't expect to be in this situation," he said.
The No. 4 seed Maryland earned this season was its best since 2015, and the 27 wins it finished with were the most since the 2015-16 season. That season was also the last time the Terrapins went to the Sweet 16.
Maryland was trending in the right direction. Now, it may have to start all over.
"This is going to be a family decision," Willard said. "I love College Park. I love Maryland.
"But when you're at this point in your career and you're looking at things, I have to take everything into consideration about what's going on moving forward."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Willard future: Maryland coach doesn't commit to staying
Continue reading...
Kevin Willard revived the hype in Maryland. After a disappointing 16-win season in 2023-24, the Terrapins went 24-7 in the regular season with the "Crab Five" lineup that was one of the best offensive units in the Big Ten — and nationwide. A buzzer-beating shot by Derik Queen got the Terrapins into the Sweet 16, and Maryland looked like it could give No. 1 seed Florida trouble in the first half Thursday. Willard could continue this spectacular season with the team's first Elite Eight trip since 2002, the same season the Terrapins won their lone national championship.
However, the Gators chomped down in the second half en route to their ninth straight victory, and Maryland exited stage left.
Soon, it could be Willard doing the same thing out of College Park.
"I don't know what I'm doing," he said after the 87-71 loss. "I haven't talked to my agent. I haven't talked to my wife. I made a promise to this team that I was gonna just focus on this team, and that's all I've done. So, I haven't talked to anybody."
Willard has been rumored to be a strong candidate for the Villanova job. For all we know, a deal could already be in place or be done hours from now. It also could all have been a ruse to get a better deal to stay with Maryland or generate more NIL funds.
He said he has no idea if Villanova has made an offer for him. His agent may have been talking to people, but Willard added he doesn't know anything about any possible conversations.
The mess all started before Maryland played its first game of the tournament. Willard called out former boss Damon Evans, who bolted to Southern Methodist, and then the head coach blamed the media for the speculation over whether his time in College Park was coming to a close.
Willard said one of his "biggest concerns in life right now" is he doesn't know who his next boss will be, with the athletic director position open.
Fans sure haven't been happy with their head coach, and it was evident when the team left its hotel to head to Chase Center on Thursday. In a moment where loyal supporters should be cheering on their squad to victory, some booed as Willard made his way through the crowd. Other videos on social media showed fans at bars shouting some NSFW chants when the head coach was shown on the big screen.
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Willard said he understands the displeasure because he's in "limbo," but he said he feels the same way.
"I'm kind of pissed, to be honest with you, because I didn't expect to be in this situation," he said.
The No. 4 seed Maryland earned this season was its best since 2015, and the 27 wins it finished with were the most since the 2015-16 season. That season was also the last time the Terrapins went to the Sweet 16.
Maryland was trending in the right direction. Now, it may have to start all over.
"This is going to be a family decision," Willard said. "I love College Park. I love Maryland.
"But when you're at this point in your career and you're looking at things, I have to take everything into consideration about what's going on moving forward."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Willard future: Maryland coach doesn't commit to staying
Continue reading...
