Maryland Coach Kevin Willard Rips Big Ten, Says Conference Doesn't Know How To Schedule Basketball Games

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Kevin Willard may only be 10 games into his first season as the Maryland head basketball coach, but he's not holding back his criticisms of the Big Ten, the Terrapins' home conference.

The Big Ten basketball schedule this year features a number of late-night tips and Willard isn't exactly a fan. He sounded off against the conference during a recent radio interview explaining the conference doesn't seem to have any idea how to schedule things.

"I just don’t think this conference gets it from the standpoint of trying to make sure that everyone’s on an equal standing, on an equal footing. Like, I think they throw the schedule open — you know, obviously, it’s a football conference — and I think they’re worried about football," Willard said.

"I don’t think they understand how to schedule a basketball game.

Maryland head coach Kevin Willard isn't a fan of his team's Big Ten schedule.

Maryland head coach Kevin Willard isn't a fan of his team's Big Ten schedule. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Willard took the Maryland job after 12 seasons the head coach at Seton Hall, a Big East program.

He was sure to point out that the Big East understands how to put together a schedule of games while taking a jab at the Big Ten not being able to win national championships in hoops.

"It’s just kind of like well, here you go. Just, 'They’re 10th, we’ll just give them the hardest schedule possible.' ... I started from an outsider looking in, now being in the conference, I can understand why there’s been such a long national championship drought in the ," he explained. "Because I just don’t think they know how to schedule.

Willard and the Terrapins will play three straight 9 p.m. ET games later this season with a home game against Indiana and two road games against Minnesota and Michigan State to follow.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and all other happenings in the world of golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.