The first question that faced Kevin Willard in the press conference wasn’t about his team’s tournament loss to Florida. That’s because the defeat is merely the background of the most pressing issue facing Maryland now – Willard’s future.
“I love College Park, I love Maryland. But when you’re at this point in your career, I have to take everything into consideration about what’s moving forward,” Willard said. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Willard’s comments came after the Gators ended Maryland’s season, 87-71, in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday. It was the Terps’ worst defeat all year.
Florida turned the ball over 13 times in the first half, its top forward Alex Condon missed the majority of the game with an ankle injury and it led by two at halftime. All-American Walter Clayton scored 13 points, his lowest total since March 1.
But Todd Golden‘s team is a No. 1 seed for a reason. Maryland stayed within striking distance for most of the game, but eventually folded to the second-best offense in the tournament.
It would be easy to blame the rumors swirling around Kevin Willard’s departure for the 18-point loss. And maybe it played a factor. But Florida’s one of the best teams in the country and it’s uniquely positioned to take advantage of Maryland’s weaknesses.
All the issues that plagued Kevin Willard’s team this season popped up on Thursday. The Gators dominated the rebounding battle, 38-20, and secured 13 offensive boards.
“They come from a kind of a physical conference in the SEC and they’re really deep, they have a lot of 6′ 10 and taller guys coming off the bench, whereas we got shorter guys,” Julian Reese said.
It was one of the first games this season that the Terps’ lack of depth truly hurt them. Ja’Kobi Gillespie picked up his fourth foul with over 12 minutes remaining and had to sit for crucial minutes. Selton Miguel was scoreless for most of Thursday’s contest and Willard didn’t have any bench scoring to turn to.
Meanwhile, Florida’s bench scored 29 points to Maryland’s three and survived a lengthy absence from Condon. Despite Clayton’s off-night, Golden has waves of options to use. Backup guard Denzel Aberdeen scored 12 points and Thomas Haugh scored 13 points.
“Our bench was fantastic,” Golden said. “Regardless of what’s going on, we got to trust our bench and know that’s a huge advantage for us tonight.”
The Gators outhustled the Terps to multiple loose balls in the second half. Even Florida’s walk-ons snagged a loose-ball rebound with seconds remaining. It looked like Maryland had tired legs.
Gillespie only had four or more fouls twice all season. Maryland lost both games and looked shaken without him. He returned to the game with eight minutes to play, but the deficit was too steep.
When he picked up his fifth foul with Maryland trailing by 18 points, the guard’s face dropped as he slowly unwrapped his tape on the bench. He stood outside the circle as his team huddled with 2:54 remaining.
Derik Queen followed him to the bench, Reese did the same and then Rodney Rice checked out of the game. The Crab Five members sat together in somber, watching a tremendous season end in a blowout.
“There’s too much [expletive] going on right now to be sad. Too much good stuff going, we’re in the Sweet Sixteen,” Jordan Geronimo said.
A loss in the program’s first Sweet Sixteen in a decade is nothing short of a success. But with Willard’s future in question, the program’s at a crossroads. Thursday’s loss has little to do with that.
Willard’s comments in the postgame revealed little. Asked what his future would be, or if Villanova had extended him a contract, he offered three words.
“I don’t know.”
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