Kevin Willard sends message to team about NCAA Tournament, transfer portal

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is ready to start on Thursday afternoon.

Villanova will watch day one and put together for its first-round matchup with Utah State on Friday. This week, the gamers and coaches have been preparing for the Wildcats’ return to event play. During an interview put up follow, initially shared by Jeff Neiburg of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Willard despatched a message to his team about enjoying within the event.

Not solely did Willard inform his team to benefit from the second, he despatched a not-so-subtle warning about the transfer portal.

“For the most part, I really enjoy it,” Willard stated. “You’re one of 68 teams to make it to the best tournament, arguably, in all of sports. I really enjoy it because next year, you’re not promised it. They could leave this program and go to another one and be on a bad team. If they stay here, they won’t be on a bad team.”

Willard has a monitor file of successful wherever he goes. At Seton Hall, Willard led the team to a Big East Tournament title in 2016. He went to Maryland and in three years, introduced that program to the Sweet 16. Now, after three bleak years at Villanova, Willard has returned the team to event play for the primary time since Jay Wright.

So, was his message simply precaution or is he making ready for a busy offseason?

Villanova will probably be shedding each Duke Brennan and Devin Askew to eligibility. The roster additionally has loads of transfer choices, together with Acaden Lewis and Tyler Perkins. It will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the roster is enthusiastic about constructing one thing at Villanova or decides to go away this offseason.