Credit to TNT’s pregame studio coverage for leaning right into the Kevin Willard-Maryland-Villanova drama and asking analyst Jay Wright directly about it. Wright, the legendary ex-Villanova coach, remains closely affiliated with the school and confirmed that he is at least loosely involved with the ongoing coaching search there.

“I love my job here at TNT, and I’m a broadcaster now, so I hope I don’t lose my job for saying this,” Wright joked. “I work for the president of Villanova, so I’m obviously in communication with him all the time. I can’t say anything except that the process is ongoing.

“It’s one of the best jobs in the country. I was blessed to be there. There’s a lot of interested people. It is a process that’s still going on right now. It’s not a done deal.”

Wright said the process of hiring coaches has shifted dramatically in recent years as an effect of the widespread changes in college sports.

“It was always behind the scenes,” he said. “The agents were talking, maybe to a representative of the university. It was never at the level it is now, where ADs are talking directly to coaches while they’re coaching their teams. The reason that’s happening is because the ADs are under pressure because the transfer portal opened Monday. The coaches understand, too … if you get behind in the transfer portal, you might not be there in a year or two.”

Wright retired in 2022 following 21 years coaching Villanova, which included national championships in 2016 and 2018. He was replaced by former assistant coach Kyle Neptune, who was fired earlier this month after three seasons without an NCAA Tournament berth. Willard, who will coach Maryland in the Sweet 16 tonight, has been heavily connected to the opening — especially after criticizing his current employer last week over an alleged lack of NIL resources.