For those who write off Villanova because of its early NCAA Tournament losses as a No. 1 or No. 2 seed to No. 10 St. Mary’s in 2010, UConn in 2014 and North Carolina State last year, Holtmann had an interesting message.
“They’re an elite team and anyone who would challenge that hasn’t watched them play the entire year,” he said. “They’re an elite team. I don’t care what anybody says about what’s happened in the past in the tournament. They’re an elite team.
“I get it. I get the whole deal with March. But let’s not discount what they’ve been able to accomplish.
“Jay has developed an incredible culture here. It’s a credit to him. He recruits good kids, hard-playing guys, they’re very talented.
“I think they get at times dismissed, but they’re a very talented group and there aren’t nights when they don’t come out and compete. He’s established the culture he wants here.”
“They’re an elite team and anyone who would challenge that hasn’t watched them play the entire year,” he said. “They’re an elite team. I don’t care what anybody says about what’s happened in the past in the tournament. They’re an elite team.
“I get it. I get the whole deal with March. But let’s not discount what they’ve been able to accomplish.
“Jay has developed an incredible culture here. It’s a credit to him. He recruits good kids, hard-playing guys, they’re very talented.
“I think they get at times dismissed, but they’re a very talented group and there aren’t nights when they don’t come out and compete. He’s established the culture he wants here.”
