Kevin Willard ‘jokes’ about firing staff after Villanova’s defensive struggles in NCAA loss
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Villanova head coach Kevin Willard expressed frustration midgame against Utah State, jokingly stating he would "fire his staff" due to poor baseline out-of-bounds defense, which contributed to an 86-76 first-round NCAA Tournament loss.
- Utah State dominated inside the paint, scoring 42 points down low, exposing a key weakness in Villanova's defense that led to their early tournament exit.
- Willard, who took over as Villanova head coach in 2025 after a period of struggles following Jay Wright's retirement, led the Wildcats to a 24-9 record and a return to March Madness in his first season.
- Despite the loss, Willard praised his team’s attitude and effort throughout the season, calling them
