Jay Bilas slammed for 'double standards' take after wading in on coaching move

ESPN commentator Jay Bilas has been slammed by fans after accusing fellow analysts of double standards amid the discourse over Kevin Willard's controversial defection from the University of Maryland .

The departing Terrapins head coach decided to part ways with the program following a devastating 87-71 defeat at the hands of Florida at the Sweet 16 stage of the NCAA Tournament.

Despite a heartbreaking loss, this represented Maryland's best March Madness run since 2016.

Willard will now take charge at Villanova University , with this unexpected switch having caught many observers by surprise.

As he prepares to take the reins at the Wildcats moving forward, his departure has been subject to widespread debate in the basketball community.

Now, ESPN's Bilas has waded into the discourse, confirming that he has zero complaints about the 49-year-old embarking on a new challenge.

Still, the analyst took issue with his own colleagues for not calling out Willard, for surmising that he had been talking to a rival school while he was still in charge in Maryland .

Accussing fellow commentators of double standards, he questioned why analysts are routinely quick to criticize players for similar actions.

He asserted: "I don't have a problem with Kevin Willard making this move.

That's great.

Any coach should look to better himself or herself based upon the circumstances and based upon business...

"But one thing you don't hear from the NCAA literati, from the administrators, from Charlie Baker: You don't hear 'tampering.' Nobody's saying there was tampering here.

This is a coach under contract that a member institution tampered with without permission from the University of Maryland." He added: "You don't hear about loyalty.

...

Where's the commitment that we hear on the part of players? And what about going through adversity...

We say all this stuff about players, but we don't apply that to coaches.

That's a contradiction to the point of hypocrisy." Taking to social media, one user responded to his take, saying: "Coaches have paid their dues.

They have had to work their way through the ranks and at times work for little to no money.

This is their careers.

Coaches have to pay buyouts.

Stop comparing that to kids making a pitstop in college.

Players can get 1 transfer and thats it." A second said: "Apples to Oranges...coaches can be fired.

Coaches have buyouts.

The coach is the face/ceo of the program.

This is their career, their profession, not some temp gig for a few years.

Stop pretending theyre the same just so you can do your whole 'workers of the world unite' routine." Meanwhile, a fourth said: "Yo Jay.

How about it all stops in general? Take off the Duke hat and take view of the ncaa basketball landscape which is a disaster.

Just put a 2 year minimum stay for any player transfer.

That would fix a lot of this." Another added: "There is a double standard, at this point both should be expected as normal.

But I think it is a poor argument to compare them.

So completely different.

Both in football and basketball.".

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