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Happy Monday Nova Nation! Tonight is the National Championship, an event that Villanova has become very familiar with to the delight of their fan base. A big part of that success has been head coach Jay Wright, who just completed his 18th season with the Wildcats. While Wright has achieved a great amount of success, especially since the Big East’s realignment, the rest of the conference has had trouble matching his achievements.
Part of the issue has been turnover within the conference. Since realignment, six of the ten schools have changed coaches due to either firings or departing for bigger schools with deeper pockets. Even the other three coaches that have been in place longer than realignment have only been coaching at their schools half as long as Wright.
But now for just the second time in six seasons, the Big East may be staying put with its coaches. Kevin Willard, who seemed to be in line to take the Virginia Tech opening, has withdrawn his name from consideration and will remain at Seton Hall. Chris Mullin, who’s seat was getting pretty hot after a late season collapse, was given an extension by St. John’s.
The efforts by these schools to hold on to their coaches is something I applaud. I may not necessarily like these coaches, but if they have the guy they want then they should absolutely do everything reasonable to hold onto them (please, no lifetime contracts). Too often coaches are let go to early, or schools cowtail to larger universities looking to come in and buy out a successful coach.
If the coach really wants to move on or if they truly aren’t working out, it’s best to let them go. But consistency is a key in college basketball, and that’s just as true among coaches as it is with the players. The coaching carousel is still turning, and we’ve probably got another month until things settle down. But for now the Big East’s coaches are staying put, and the conference will be better for it.
In other “news”, two Villanova commits had a big weekend, rumors about possible incoming transfers are starting to whirl around campus, and Zion Williamson is the AP Player of the Year. Enjoy!
Villanova Basketball
The Wright Way Is Not The Right Way For College Athletes | Sports Talk Florida
The Wright Way Is Not The Right Way For College Athletes As Villanova Men's Basketball Coach Jay Wright Can Make Money His Players Can't
A YouTube-inspired look at the 15 greatest games in Final Four Saturday history | 11alive.com
You can't tell the story of Final Four Saturday without regaling the heroics of Christian Laettner, Akeem Olajuwon, David Thompson and Frank Kaminsky.
Several Mavs are well aware of the "Madness" of the Tournament | Dallas Sports Fanatic
As the final few days of this year’s NCAA Tournament get underway with the Final Four in Minneapolis this weekend, NBA players around the league are likely reliving the memories of their time in the Big Dance.
Class of 2019
Top GEICO Nationals storylines including IMG, New Hope victories | USA Today HSS
IMG and New Hope Academy won the GEICO Nationals. Here are some of the top storylines from the elite high school basketball tournament.
The Inquirer’s 2018-19 All-Area Boys’ Basketball Team: Abington’s Eric Dixon headlines Southeastern Pa.'s best players | The Inquirer
The top performers in Southeastern Pa. boys' basketball.
Abington’s Eric Dixon is the 2018-19 All-Area boys’ basketball player of the year | The Inquirer
The Abington forward finished his career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,454 points.
GEICO Nationals Championship: IMG Academy handles La Lumiere | USA Today HSS
No. 4 IMG Academy wins its first national title in any sport. knocking off No. 1 La Lumiere at GEICO Nationals.
GEICO Nationals: No. 4 IMG Academy tops No. 3 Montverde Academy in wild finish | MaxPreps
MaxPreps News - Ascenders meet La Lumiere in finals after Lakers squeak past Oak Hill Academy.
Recruiting
LaMarr Kimble, CBB Player Page | Rotowire
Kimble has placed his name in the transfer portal as a potential grad transfer
K.J. Lawson: Five Good Fits for the Kansas Transfer
These are the best spots for Lawson, and Villanova is one of them.
Coaching Carousel
Kevin Willard sticks with Seton Hall after considering Virginia Tech | New York Post
That sound you hear is the sigh of relief from Seton Hall and its fans in the wake of Kevin Willard taking his name out of consideration for the vacant Virginia Tech coaching job.
Kevin Willard reportedly staying at Seton Hall | Roanoke.com
Cross Seton Hall's Kevin Willard off the list of possibilities for the Virginia Tech men's basketball coaching vacancy.
Seton Hall Pirates news: Kevin Willard to remain head coach| ESNY
Despite rumored courtship from Virginia Tech, Kevin Willard will reportedly return to the Seton Hall Pirates for a 10th season.
Jamie Dixon reportedly out of consideration to be next UCLA men’s basketball coach | Daily Bruin
There will be no UCLA men’s basketball coach for the time being.
Why St. John's Reaffirmed Its Commitment To Coach Chris Mullin | Forbes
St. John's basketball coach Chris Mullin will be staying with the school despite some persistent rumors to the contrary. Mullin has coached the Red Storm for four seasons
Chris Mullin will remain St. John's head coach, AD says | SI.com
St. John's athletic director Mike Cragg confirmed that the university is not looking to replace head coach Chris Mullin.
How Jamie Dixon-to-UCLA died, and what the Bruins will do next in their coaching search | CBSSports.com
It appears Jamie Dixon is staying put in Fort Worth, so now where will UCLA look?
March Madness and College Basketball
March Madness 2019: The 10 biggest national championship upsets in NCAA Tournament history | CBSSports.com
The 1980s were a hot time for incredible upsets at the close of NCAA tourneys
Chris Beard has Texas Tech riding its defense to the Final Four of NCAA Tournament | The Inquirer
The Red Raiders coach has established a strong team that has dominated on defense this season, Tech will be seeing a similarly defensive minded team on Saturday night when it takes on Michigan State in a national semifinal.
Student athletes play national anthem at Final Four | Tacoma News Tribune
Student athletes representing the 2019 NCAA Tournament Final Four schools played a different styled rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” before Auburn played Virginia.
Texas Tech racing to get Tariq Owens ready for NCAA championship | New York Post
Tariq Owens’ dream season hit a speed bump when he landed on teammate Norense Odiase’s foot, and turned his right ankle in the second half of the Red...
Tariq Owens injury: Texas Tech senior returns to court for Final Four | SI.com
Tariq Owens limped to the Texas Tech locker room but somehow ended up running back onto the court.
Michael Avenatti accuses Nike of bribing high school basketball players | The Big Lead
Michael Avenatti has accused Nike executives of bribing high school basketball players.
Zion Williamson wins Naismith Player of the Year: 3rd freshman ever | SI.com
Zion Williamson is the eighth Duke player to win the Naismith Men's Player of the Year.
So what’s the guy with $300,000 riding on Texas Tech going to do now? | The Inquirer
The Red Raiders are 1.5-point underdogs to Virginia. The over/under of 117.5 points is the lowest for a title game since Villanova-Georgetown.