Can Villanova Rise Into A Championship Contender Again? Wildcats Bank On Kevin Willard To Lead Them

Kevin Willard publicly campaigned - pleaded, really - during Maryland's run to the Sweet 16 for more from the university and athletic department for his Big Ten program.

More of everything - "fundamental changes," he called them - that really came down to more money, so much more, being funneled into basketball. Willard wanted Maryland to share its plan for revenue sharing with athletes and questioned how the Terrapins could ever be a "top tier" program as the race in college sports to outspend for players and all the adjacent bells and whistles nearly rivals professional levels.

Willard should have all the elements he needs to compete for a national championship, only now at Villanova.

His messy breakup with Maryland was completed Sunday when the 49-year-old coach was hired by a Villanova program that suffered through a March malaise over the last three seasons under the fired Kyle Neptune.

Willard had been linked to the Villanova job throughout the NCAA Tournament, where the Terps earned a No. 4 seed and reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Florida . Maryland went 27-9 this season and 14-6 in the Big Ten Conference.