Kevin Willard describes Jay Wright's lasting influence on...

What this episode covers

Jon Rothstein is joined by first-year Villanova head coach Kevin Willard to discuss Jay Wright's influence on the Nova program, why the Wildcats are successful in his first season and the evolution of the Big East. (0:00) Intro + Kevin Willard joins! (0:30) Ed Cooley’s role in Kevin’s story (1:55) How the Nova job is different from past coaching jobs (3:05) What do you know about being the Wildcat head coach now? (4:30) Balancing Jay Wright’s influence and running the program Kevin’s way (7:30) How is Villanova 18-5 this year? (8:45) Getting back to the NCAA tournament (9:45) Honing evaluation skills at Seton Hall & how it translates to this climate (11:45) Retention is the main priority (13:10) Why the Nova backcourt is so effective (14:15) Duke Brennan’s performance this season in first year at Nova (15:35) Talking St. John’s, UConn and growing pains against good teams (18:00) What can the Big East do to improve nationally? (20:00) Should the Big East consider an 18-game conference schedule? (22:50) One win and one loss that sticks with Willard (24:20) A recruit he just missed out on (25:05) What are the keys to a tournament run? #CollegeBasketball #CBB #NCAA #BigTen #SEC #ACC #EyeOnCollegeBasketball #JonRothstein #KevinWillard #Villanova 🎥 WATCH • Subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CBSSportsCBB • Watch CBS Sports HQ: https://cbssports.com/live • Watch CBS Sports Network on your TV or the CBS Sports App with your cable provider 🎧 LISTEN • Stream and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vk8wq9lunf3agEif1kM8T?si=b4e091007c2545c6 • Download and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eye-on-college-basketball/id268800565 • Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18 • Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867 📱FOLLOW • Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOnCBBPodcast • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbssportscbb/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cbssportscbb?lang=en ▶︎Gary Parrish: https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS ▶︎Matt Norlander: https://twitter.com/MattNorlander ▶︎Jon Rothstein: https://x.com/JonRothstein 📖 READ • More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ 🛍️SUPPORT • Shop our merch: https://www.paramountshop.com/collections/eye-on-college-basketball 💵BETTING • For everything CBS Sports Betting: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/ • Find the best sportsbooks: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/best-betting-apps/ • Get the latest sportsbook promos: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/ 🎙ABOUT EYE ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL CBS Sports’ official college basketball podcast is the most entertaining and informative of its kind. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander bring the sport into your ears at least three times per week with commentary, reporting, insider information and statistical analysis throughout college basketball all year long. 🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops ...

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Inside College Basketball Now?

This episode is 27 minutes long.

When was this Inside College Basketball Now episode published?

This episode was published on February 10, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Jon Rothstein is joined by first-year Villanova head coach Kevin Willard to discuss Jay Wright's influence on the Nova program, why the Wildcats are successful in his first season and the evolution of the Big East. (0:00) Intro + Kevin Willard...

Can I download this Inside College Basketball Now episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.