# Kevin Willard Opens Up on Villanova, the Transfer Portal & Expanding March Madness

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now-7390704/kevin-willard-opens-up-on-villanova-the-transfer-portal-expanding-march-madness
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now-7390704/kevin-willard-opens-up-on-villanova-the-transfer-portal-expanding-march-madness.md
Podcast: [Inside College Basketball Now](https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now-7390704)
Published: 2026-07-07T14:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8261127/8261127_2026-04-15-032827.192.mp3?rssID=6266
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8261127/8261127_2026-04-15-032827.192.mp3?rssID=6266
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Duration seconds: 1988

## Resource

Kevin Willard joins Jon Rothstein to discuss the challenge of rebuilding Villanova in today's college basketball landscape. From constructing a roster in the transfer portal era to balancing life as a head coach, Willard shares how he's approaching one of the sport's most high-profile jobs. The two also discuss the Wildcats' 2026-27 roster, expectations in the Big East Conference, the non-conference schedule, the proposed expansion of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, and where the sport is headed in the years to come. (0:00) Willard's Background (1:45) Time Away from Family (2:40) Bringing Villanova Back (4:20) Is Villanova Still a Blue Blood? (6:05) Coaching Career (8:40) Big East Competition (10:25) 2026-27 Roster (11:30) Luigi Suigo (13:40) Building the Team (19:00) Notre Dame in Rome (20:38) Injury Updates (22:10) Non-Conference Schedule (25:20) Expanded NCAA Tournament (28:10) Future of College Basketball (31:53) Looking Ahead #CollegeBasketball #CBB #NCAA #BigTen #SEC #ACC #EyeOnCollegeBasketball #JonRothstein 🎥 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 B…

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