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Kevin Willard’s split with Maryland was ugly. Despite leading the Terps to a Sweet 16 in his final season, he exited amid off-court drama.
Willard bailed on the program to accept a job at Villanova. On Saturday, he returned to the DMV as the Wildcats travelled to Washington DC.
Willard’s bunch played rival Georgetown in Big East action. They trailed at the midway point before making a second half run.
Villanova won the game, 80-73. It improved to 18-5 on the year to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume.
Willard was asked about the win after the game. He commented on a particular section of the home crowd that showed up to antagonize.
Maryland fans trolled Kevin Willard
Kevin Willard on being heckled by Maryland fans who came to today’s game in DC:
“They wasted a Saturday. I don’t know what the f*** they were doing. If they’ve got nothing better to do on a Saturday than come look at my bald ass…” 😂pic.twitter.com/KdwTCuUQaz
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 7, 2026
“They wasted a Saturday,” he said of Maryland fans that came to heckle. “I don’t know what the f— they were doing. If they’ve got nothing better to do on a Saturday than come look at my bald a–, I don’t know what they’re doing.”
Willard’s departure from the university was messy.
The Terps went 27-9 in his final season. They won two NCAA Tournament contests before losing in the Sweet 16.
Despite success, rumors on Willard’s job status swirled throughout the postseason run. Unhappiness with support from the university was cited.
Willard listed his demands to stay in a public press conference during March Madness. He asked Maryland to spend more on his program.
All the while, he told players of his intent to return at season’s end. When the time came, however, he bailed for a school where basketball is king.
The timing was less than ideal. By stringing the Terps along, he prevented them from ID-ing a replacement. Most top available coaches had already found landing spots. They eventually settled on Buzz Williams.
Maryland fans are still salty about the breakup. They made sure their voices were heard during a game that didn’t involve the Terrapins.
Those fans got to witness a victory for Willard, something that’s proven elusive for Maryland in its first year without its head coach. The Terrapins are 8-14 in Year 1 of the Buzz Williams era. They’ve won one Big 10 game in 11 tries.