Villanova coach Jay Wright has one thing he wants his players to focus on — rest. The two-time NCAA champion knows his request might sound a little strange but he wants his players and staff to focus on taking some time off amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
"It sounds so bizarre to say this," Wright told Andy Katz on the . "We've been really trying to force these guys to rest. We're done earlier than we normally are and we're trying to convince them, even though they feel like they still want to be playing, that they got to rest not just physically but mentally."
Wright's interview begins at around the 42-minute mark. Katz also welcomes former Valparaiso player and current Grand Valley coach Bryce Drew, former Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig and former NC State player Dereck Whittenburg on this week's episode to talk about their parts in March Madness history.
With classes now all online, Wright said the main topic between his staff and his players is academics and the need to lay low.
"We can tell, talking with them, they're battling to get back into gyms. It's a mental battle with them right now," Wright said.
Wright joined Katz to talk about Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beater in the 2016 national championship game against North Carolina. That moment has made it to the Sweet 16 of the best March Madness moments bracket game. Jenkins' game-winner will face off against the classic Magic Johnson versus Larry Bird national championship of 1979.
RELIVE THE MADNESS: Vote on what you think is the best March Madness moment of all time
CBS replayed the 2016 national championship this weekend, replacing what was supposed to be action from this year's tournament.
"I never watched on TV, that '16 game, until yesterday," Wright said. "Our whole family sat down and we watched it and it was really cool ... The shot going through the net, the boom of the confetti, the confetti pouring down perfectly. It was like a movie, it was unbelievable."
WHAT HAPPENED?: NCAA's VP walks Andy Katz through the decision to cancel 2020's NCAA tournament
The March Madness 365 podcast is a weekly podcast covering all things college basketball. You can listen and subscribe to the podcast , on , , and .
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
