I am a Maryland degree, and I briefly covered Kevin Willard when he trained in Seton Hall, so I am after Maryland Basket drama this week with deep curiosity.
It is the rare story that perfectly combines the tension in the NCAA tournament and the theater for the sport’s coaching carousel, while revealing what is at the heart of this activity and in the hearts of the fans.
Willard has negotiated in the media – not only for a contract extension but also for more funding for his program. But with Maryland who will meet No. 1 seed Florida tonight, some Terps fans become tired of the action.
To Backtrack: Maryland is in Sweet 16 thanks to a summary shot from the window of beginner Star Derik Queen against Colorado State. It is Willard’s first time that ever reaches Sweet 16 and only Maryland’s second trip to the regions in more than 20 years.
At the beginning of the tournament, Willard’s name was linked to the opening at Villanova, which led to a report that he and Maryland worked on a contract extension.
Then a fun thing happened: SMU dropped Maryland Athletic Director Damon Evans. In essence, Maryland’s athletic department is currently rudderless, or at least without the captain, to use a better nautical metaphor.
Willard, on his typical Plainspoken -way (this will be the key later), decided to scoop Evans News before it was official.
“He probably comes to SMU,” Willard said the day before Maryland’s tournament. “So it’s a little difficult to negotiate with someone who may not be here. But I have to make basic changes in the program. That’s what I’m focused on right now. That’s why a deal has not done, because I want to see – I need to see – fundamental changes. I want this program to be good. I want it to be the best in the country, I want to win.
He talked about ensuring that the athletic department commits more resources for men’s basketball if it is serious about being nationally competitive.
“With a football program, with a really good women’s program, with a phenomenal lacrosse and football program, I do not want to remove from these programs,” Willard said on a radio look Tuesday. “But at the same time, in men’s basketball, there are schools out there that will be able to do things that we can’t do. I don’t want anyone to say to me – especially because I don’t have an athletic manager – I don’t want anyone to say we should do it. I want it to be put in my contract.”
And if not? Well, up on the road in Pennsylvania there may be a school with a basketball league where he would not have to postpone the football team.
Listen: Maryland is a basketball school. Its transition to the Big Ten 10-Plus years ago was a football-minded feature, and Terps often makes bowl games but will never compete at the same level as Ohio State and Michigan. With the revenue division time in college athletics on the way to arrive, Willard argues for what he thinks Maryland Basket needs.
I think the New York/New Jersey Frankness that he speaks is to turn off many people in the DC suburbs. And if not for the time for Evan’s departure or Villanova -Hävstångsyp, the fans can see Willard as a hero who is fighting for the program’s future.
Instead, we get the message board madmen that requires his shooting. In the middle of Sweet 16. They will be motivated if he escapes for Villanova, but from the inside, these fans want the same thing as Willard says he wants in College Park.
Funny enough Willard would not go close to the subject at his press conference on Wednesday.
Why have you felt that it has been the best way to advocate for your program?
“Well, I’ll be honest, I think our biggest thing is that we have to stop (Walter) Clayton. He’s really good. He shoots the basket and goes to 48%.”
I guess we’re back to the task.
