Maryland hires Willard
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This is like setting money on fire - what a terrible choice by Maryland. Coaching landscape these days is barren…
I really have to disagree with this. Coach Willard took Seton Hall from the Big East basement and consistently got the Pirates into the tournament. I don't understand the dissing of Willard by Cards fans and comparing him to Coach Mack is just laziness.
Maryland is a good place for him and a improvement over the previous coach. I'm not saying he's a top level head coach but he's not a dog like some here state. He's a good recruiter as well.
He’s a nice guy but he doesn’t move the needle at a place with some tradition like Maryland. Honestly I think the comparisons to Mack are apt - and not just because both are skinny, bald white guys. I don’t think Willard will prove any more ready for a P5 program than Mack was. Time - as always - will tell.
So you don't include The Big East as a power conference? Villanova and Providence would disagree.
Kevin Willard has proven he can coach and it's ridiculous to say Maryland is burning its money. Is Louisville burning its money? Do you think that about hiring Kenny Payne? Willard certainly is less of a gamble than Payne?
In 12 years at Seton Hall, he had 1 ncaa tourney win. Just a very uninspiring hire imo.
It’s not me that doesn’t include the BE - it’s everyone. Does that mean that there’s not good basketball programs outside of the P5? Of course there are but the reality is, there’s a lot of differences between a Maryland and Seton Hall. Or a Xavier and UofL.
Time will also tell about UofL hiring Payne when it comes down to what matters most - winning. He might be a complete bust but I think that his ceiling is dramatically higher than Willard’s. KP’s hiring has also been almost universally applauded - don’t think you can say the same with Willard’s - even among Maryland fans.
I really don't care who applauds who and you shouldn't use that in your argument. You saying Payne's ceiling is higher than Willard is just wishful thinking and has no basis in fact. You just like KP and Willard not so much. You think Maryland fans would rather have Payne? Come on!
And for me at least, the power 5 is associated with football. In hoops the Big East is a power conference. Nobody I've heard on TV says otherwise.
There's multiple title winners Villanova and Uconn. Providence is a win away from the elite 8. Butler is a two time runner up and Creighton, Seton Hall and Xavier all have been consistent NCAA tournament participants. Even the teams that are currently down like Georgetown and St. Johns have blue blood pedigrees.
The Big East is not a mid major conference like the AAC or C-USA. Not even close.
Wow - you’ve really worked yourself up on this topic. Lot to unpack here so, let’s go!
1. The BE not being a P5 has nothing to do with who “applauds (me)” - whatever that means. It’s not my opinion, it’s a universally recognized fact - including by the ncaa - that the BE is not a P5 conference. You of course are free to hold whatever opinion you want on the subject - I mean you’re incorrect but hey, you do you.
2. P5 conference is more than a designation regarding competitive strength in a particular sport - including basketball. The primary differences are typically annual budgets - which are driven by conference affiliation and the money distributed by those conferences which as we all know are a result of tv money for football. Seton Hall’s budget would be minuscule compared to Maryland’s and having to manage a much larger program and budget - not to mention greater fan expectations - has doomed many a mid major coach trying to make the jump.
3. I’ve met Willard - actually had a couple of beers with him on one occasion as part of a larger group - while he was at UofL. He was really nice and I have zero against him. I hope that he does well - I mean he won’t but - I’ve no reason to root against him.
4. Willard’s body of work is a known. As KnuckleHank said - 1 tourney win in 12 years. Not impressive at all - even for a mid major. In comparison, IMO Payne - given his connections and the length and breadth of his supporters and universal respect both in the pro and college game - has a significantly higher ceiling. Already there’s talk of him being in the mix for players like Wagner, Clark, etc. - not so much for Willard. Maryland fans would ABSOLUTELY rather have KP - to suggest otherwise is delusional.
As I said, time will tell in both situations.
I just went to the 247/7 Maryland site (there is no free rivals one), and folks there seem very underwhelmed. Had Louisville hired this guy, I would have been very underwhelmed. Wow, they went for Pitino but got Kevin Willard.
The 3 key words in that sentence is “at Seton Hall”. Who else has been successful there? He’s a good coach. We’ll see if the resources at Maryland are a factor. Is he worse than Mark Turgeon?
March 21, 2025 - Willard's teams fail to win a single NCAAT game over a 3 year period and Maryland FARRRRS that sonofabeyitch.
You don't know what I meant with applaud? You used that exact word and I was mocking it. Now do you know what it means?
I just took umbrage at you saying Maryland was burning money with the hiring of Willard. You're wrong!
None of that is a ringing endorsement, which supports my opinion that it’s an uninspiring hire. The new marketing campaign of “at least he’s better than Turgeon” might not sell tickets.
Btw…PJ Carlisemo did have Seton Hall a missed free throw away from winning a national championship.
Okay I'm going to admit that I thought the power 5 conference was a media created term? That it was mostly associated with football and the BCS championship?
When it came to basketball I don't recall the power 5 being relevant at all. There's no BCS to determine a champion there's a tournament. Villanova has been as successful as any conference program in the last 10 years out of the Big East conference. Uconn did the same the 10 years before that.
Nowhere do I see anyone saying The Big East is not a power conference. No one compares them to C-USA or even Gonzaga's conference. It's not considered a mid-major like the MAC or the Sun Belt conference.
But I digress, Maryland is so above the likes of a former Big East coach. What are they thinking?
I thought mocking each other was ok?
BTW - I misread your earlier post - thought it said “you” not “who” in the applaud bit which is why I included “me” parenthetically - so…
Sorry that you got all pissy about me stating what seems to be obvious to most, that Willard has been mediocre at a mid major and his hiring at a P5 program shows how thin the ranks of quality college coaches really is.
Perhaps in subsequent posts you can provide some reasoning why I’m wrong(!) other than listing the previous accomplishments of other mid major programs.
Again - and hopefully for the last time - by the use of the term P5 with basketball - I’m primarily differentiating the size and budget of those schools (like Maryland) vs those schools (like Seton Hall) that are not included in the P5 cash bonanza.
Just answer me this honestly. Do you really believe that Willard would still be the coach at Maryland if he had the same W-L record as he’s had at seton hall? Turgeon won more and lost less (.661 winning % vs .583 for Willard) and they fired his ass.
That’s because It’s after the fact. Turgeon was at least on a lot of teams radar when he got hired at Maryland.
You could say the same thing about KP if it’s true. At least he’s better than Chris Mack…
You’re kidding - right? Not only did you answer your own questions in your post - they were also answered in more depth in several posts in this thread.
I suppose I could cut and paste them here again but, why don’t you simply scroll up?
Just my own opinion here, but I believe this tournament serves as evidence that P5 superiority does not apply to Basketball. Football and Baseball? Absolutely, particularly with the SEC being so dominating in those two sports.
Despite the ”talking heads”, Lunardi and other media folks who pumped the false narrative about how bad the ACC a was this year, and how great the BIG10 was …… the results are showing just how much parity there is in college basketball.
ACC basketball continues to be most formidable, even during a year where some of the member schools failed to measure up to their previous elevated levels …… with that said; going forward after the sweet 16 has been identified, the ACC clearly has the more impressive performance when compared to the BIG10 and the SEC; both conferences that were largely reported to be superior to the ACC.
The term “self-fulfilling prophecy” applies with the selection process that is currently in place, but clearly a flawed one.
An example is St Peter’s, who finished second to Iona in their regular conference play. I am not suggesting Iona deserves to be included, but in hindsight ……how can anyone defend the 9 BIG10 and the 6 SEC invitees after witnessing their poor performances, and keeping others like Iona out?
Seeding and ranking is flawed and it’s time to open up the tournament to more of the non- P5 conference schools.
Despite the ”talking heads”, Lunardi and other media folks who pumped the false narrative about how bad the ACC a was this year, and how great the BIG10 was …… the results are showing just how much parity there is in college basketball.
ACC basketball continues to be most formidable, even during a year where some of the member schools failed to measure up to their previous elevated levels …… with that said; going forward after the sweet 16 has been identified, the ACC clearly has the more impressive performance when compared to the BIG10 and the SEC; both conferences that were largely reported to be superior to the ACC.
The term “self-fulfilling prophecy” applies with the selection process that is currently in place, but clearly a flawed one.
An example is St Peter’s, who finished second to Iona in their regular conference play. I am not suggesting Iona deserves to be included, but in hindsight ……how can anyone defend the 9 BIG10 and the 6 SEC invitees after witnessing their poor performances, and keeping others like Iona out?
Seeding and ranking is flawed and it’s time to open up the tournament to more of the non- P5 conference schools.
I've heard ESPN commentators refer to The Big East as a "Power Six" program in terms of basketball. I'm not proclaiming ESPN to be God but I've heard the term. However you describe it, the Big East is a Top 6 basketball league, no doubt, and was undoubtedly better in the regular season than the ACC (which has turned it on in the NCAAT). The Big East is pretty damn good, how about that?
To this day I still feel the pain and yearning of nostalgia watching the Big East Tournament on television. There's something special about elite basketball being played MSG in March, which all the world watching in primetime on Saturday night.
To this day I still feel the pain and yearning of nostalgia watching the Big East Tournament on television. There's something special about elite basketball being played MSG in March, which all the world watching in primetime on Saturday night.
I'm trying to imagine the attitude of this board and the fan base had Louisville hired Kevin Willard. *shudders. Doesn't matter what we think, he can now go win and prove himself.
I would have been disappointed because Louisville is a blue blood program and should be able to hire a top level coach. However, I know the pending sanctions might have made that not possible.
Of all the names that I saw mentioned, Willard would have not been the best or the worst to coach the Cards. His Pitino ties I figured would derail his chances. I knew he would be considered another Chris Mack, even though their styles are very different. I really didn't give him much thought.
UofL hiring Kenny Payne is a big gamble. It would not have happened if he wasn't a former Cardinal. There is so much we just don't know and everyone will see at the same time what kind of head coach KP will be.
Given Louisville wasn't likely going to hire a Scott Drew or a Eric Musselman, going with a first time head coach over a handful of medium levels coaches like Willard and Holtmann is understandable.
Hopefully we caught lightning in a bottle with KP and good times are back at the Yum center. Now how many current players will be back is the question?
Of all the names that I saw mentioned, Willard would have not been the best or the worst to coach the Cards. His Pitino ties I figured would derail his chances. I knew he would be considered another Chris Mack, even though their styles are very different. I really didn't give him much thought.
UofL hiring Kenny Payne is a big gamble. It would not have happened if he wasn't a former Cardinal. There is so much we just don't know and everyone will see at the same time what kind of head coach KP will be.
Given Louisville wasn't likely going to hire a Scott Drew or a Eric Musselman, going with a first time head coach over a handful of medium levels coaches like Willard and Holtmann is understandable.
Hopefully we caught lightning in a bottle with KP and good times are back at the Yum center. Now how many current players will be back is the question?
You're right; the sanctions made us reach a little here. I think Drew would have happened had the punishment been handed down but that's just my hypothetical opinion and we'll never know.
I'm hopeful. If nothing else, the Yum Center should have a packed house, a rocking environment, and hopefully we'll have enough good players to have a fun year even if it doesn't necessarily end in a Final Four. There has been a feeling of malaise over the last 4 years and it feels like the darkness is turning to light. I think Sidney Curry is going to play himself into the draft rankings (just another opinion). It all has to play out.
I'm hopeful. If nothing else, the Yum Center should have a packed house, a rocking environment, and hopefully we'll have enough good players to have a fun year even if it doesn't necessarily end in a Final Four. There has been a feeling of malaise over the last 4 years and it feels like the darkness is turning to light. I think Sidney Curry is going to play himself into the draft rankings (just another opinion). It all has to play out.
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