Villanova Coaching Search: Willard By Process of Elimination?

While Villanova Men’s Basketball remains notoriously tight-lipped on their search for a head coach to replace Kyle Neptune, not so much as a rumor trickling out in recent days, using the process of elimination can help point to who their top target is.

Names floated out include UCLA’s Mick Cronin, New Mexico’s Richard Pitino, Maryland’s Kevin Willard and also dark horse candidates like Oklahoma’s Porter Moser. Cronin, Pitino and Moser all saw their seasons come to an end at least two days ago, and there still hasn’t been a jot of public movement in the Wildcats’ search. However, Willard remains active in the NCAA Tournament — a Derik Queen buzzer beater took them to the Sweet Sixteen on Sunday, March 23 — and with his wanting to stay focusedon the season at hand rather than a new contract, that could solve why rumors regarding Villanova’s target slowed to a trickle.

Were Pitino, Cronin or anyone else on their shortlist (and now open for negotiations), surely some rumor would’ve come out. That’s how we got those names in the first place, try though Villanova might to keep the search airtight. The Terrapins will take the court for their Sweet Sixteen matchup with No. 1 seed Florida at 7:39 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, which might end up the next time we hear substantial movement on the coaching search.

As always, however, the process remains flexible and the Wildcats could pivot to another target in the interim.

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