Villanova's Willard downplays flak -- 'Time everyone moved on' - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Willard deadpanned that, no, he hadn't heard the laundry list of complaints lodged against him by Maryland fans and former players — and, well, the list goes on — that he threw his program under the bus after the Terrapins made a run to the Sweet 16.

But yes, Willard confessed, he was generally aware of the consensus sentiment that he used Maryland as a pawn to get whatever he wanted at a traditional power such as Villanova, which hired Willard as head coach just days after his Terrapins were ousted from the NCAA tournament by top-seeded Florida.

So perhaps Willard knew ESPN commentator Scott Van Pelt, a Maryland alumnus, went scorched earth on him and said, among many criticisms levied, «you don't do damage to the university and program where you've been for three years.» Perhaps Willard also heard Jimmy's Famous Seafood — the self-proclaimed home of " the world's greatest crabcakes!" — stuck snakehead bites on the menu in honor of Willard with all proceeds donated to Maryland's name, likeness and image efforts. Or that all-time Terrapins great Len Elmore said he was weary of «mercenary coaches» who played the school like fiddles.

Yeah, it's a long list of unhappy Terrapins.

And the damage done was… nothing.

Willard landed at a Villanova program that, despite missing the NCAA tournament for three straight seasons under former coach Kyle Neptune, still has elite status within reach with deep NIL coffers and a whopping payout ahead courtesy of the proposed upcoming House settlement. Maryland forged ahead by plucking away Texas A&M's Buzz Williams.

Williams, who has also coached at Virginia Tech, Marquette and New Orleans, bounced on to a new gig — just like Willard and just like so many successful