HOGS BEAT Seton Hall’s Willard to end playing career.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Seton Hall Coach Kevin Willard will try to knock the Arkansas Razorbacks out of the NCAA Tournament 20 years ago to the day they ended his college playing career.
Willard was a starting point guard at Pittsburgh and played his final game on March 17, 1997, when the Razorbacks beat the Panthers 76-71 in an NIT quarterfinal game in Fayetteville at Walton Arena.
Willard’s Pirates play the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville at 12:30 p.m. today in a first-round South Regional game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
“It’s been 20 years since we played that NIT game? Really?” Willard said when a reporter reminded him. “I hadn’t even thought about it, but that’s pretty cool.
“I do remember playing in Bud Walton Arena. I remember not liking to play in Walton Arena, either.
“The Arkansas crowd made it a very tough place to play.”
So did Kareem Reid, the Razorbacks’ 5-10 sophomore point guard.
Reid led Arkansas with 15 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals as the Razorbacks were cheered on by a crowd of 17,068.
“Kareem Reid was a heck of a little player,” Willard said. “He hit a couple of big three-point baskets for them late when he hadn’t hit one all game.”
Derek Hood and Pat Bradley, also sophomores, added 13 and 12 points for Arkansas.
The Panthers had 25 turnovers. Willard had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 turnovers in 25 minutes.
Willard laughed when asked if 20 years ago he could have imagined coaching against the Razorbacks in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, I wasn’t thinking about that when I was 21,” he said. “I can tell you that much.”
Willard said he also isn’t thinking about payback against the Razorbacks today.
“Life moves on,” he said. “This game is all about Seton Hall and Arkansas playing in the NCAA Tournament.”