Maryland coach Kevin Willard showed visible exasperation when confronted by reporters despite his team clinching an impressive 81-49 victory over Grand Canyon in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.
In the lead-up to the game, Willard was openly vocal about his dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the college program and his interactions with Damon Evans, the athletic director. These comments coincided with Evans preparing to assume a similar role at SMU. Willard was also rumored to be under consideration for the coaching position at Villanova.
Shortly after Willard’s press interaction post-game, it was confirmed that Evans had accepted the AD role at SMU. During the session, Willard became increasingly agitated when faced with questions hinting at “the situation,” linking players’ victory to the ongoing events off-court. Willard firmly insisted that the only stir came from social media speculation, over which he had no control.
“There is no situation,” Willard remarked emphatically. “The only situation is you guys and Twitter, and I can’t control you guys and I can’t control Twitter, so there’s nothing I can do.”
Pointing to his players gathered around him, Willard highlighted his transparency with them throughout the developments. “These guys know exactly what’s going on. I’ve been open with them. I’ve been honest with them. They know exactly what’s going on.”
Observing the interaction, players shook their heads subtly and offered wistful smiles. The Terps, who were the fourth seed in the tournament, successfully advanced to face No. 12 seed Colorado State in the next round.
Drawing a controversial comparison, Willard likened media coverage surrounding his program to that of a tabloid, a stance echoing sentiments shared during a candid pre-practice news conference. In that conference, he revealed negotiations with Evans, emphasizing the need for bolstering the program’s stature through measures like enhanced NIL funding.
These unusually transparent remarks gained substantial media traction, given their departure from the typically closed-door nature of collegiate athletics. Willard illustrated previous financial constraints impacting the team, such as the inability to stay in New York City for an additional night during the holiday season due to cost considerations.
“Whatever I say, you’re going to write whatever you want to say anyways,” Willard expressed, evidencing frustration toward the media portrayal of events. “That’s why this is a waste of my time. … There’s nothing else to talk about. You guys just write whatever the hell you want, right? I don’t give a (crap). I really don’t. I’ll probably get a letter from the NCAA.”