2020 NCAA Tournament

[Titan Q]

Johns Hopkins just announced they will not permit spectators to attend the first or second rounds games on their campus.  Less than 15 hours before the first tip.

Absolutely ridiculous.  Ugh.

[Colby Hoops]

Johns Hopkins just announced they will not permit spectators to attend the first or second rounds games on their campus.  Less than 15 hours before the first tip.

That's going to be a strange experience to play the biggest games of each team's season in front of an empty gym. Seems like there would have been capacity crowds for both games too.

[Ron Boerger]

And, ya know, for freaking JOHNS HOPKINS, a major medical research institution which is heavily involved in the COVAD-19 effort to do something this stupid sends a message that probably shouldn't be sent.

[jknezek]

And, ya know, for freaking JOHNS HOPKINS, a major medical research institution which is heavily involved in the COVAD-19 effort to do something this stupid sends a message that probably shouldn't be sent.

Or perhaps we have that backward. JOHNS HOPKINS is a major medical research institution with one of the world's premiere infectious disease departments. For them to do something like this sends a message that we might need to spend more time listening too. I guess it just depends on your point of view. Do you trust medical professionals, who are very concerned about this, or do you not?

That is your decision. But just about every major world leader, national medical service, international medical service says this is a difficult problem. Just about every major professional investor has decided this is a major problem. Just about every major travel company has admitted this is a major problem.

The people claiming this is not a major problem don't tend to have those credentials or that skin in the game.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Johns Hopkins has a home Lacrosse game against Maryland scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) which has not been altered or changed in any way.  There will be fans outside the gym in the afternoon, but not allowed in for the evening.

This is what really bothers me.  It seems, from the outside, like they're targeting Yeshiva and any fans who might come from NY.  If it's a general concern, they should ban fans from Lacrosse, too, right?

[CNU85]

Johns Hopkins has a home Lacrosse game against Maryland scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) which has not been altered or changed in any way.  There will be fans outside the gym in the afternoon, but not allowed in for the evening.

This is what really bothers me.  It seems, from the outside, like they're targeting Yeshiva and any fans who might come from NY.  If it's a general concern, they should ban fans from Lacrosse, too, right?

Exactly. Selective cautionary measures.

[CNU85]

or perhaps because JHU Lacrosse is D1 has something to do with that?

[gordonmann]

Does this have something to do with why Yeshiva is being singled out?

https://nypost.com/2020/03/04/yeshiva-university-cancels-classes-after-student-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/

[CNU85]

And, ya know, for freaking JOHNS HOPKINS, a major medical research institution which is heavily involved in the COVAD-19 effort to do something this stupid sends a message that probably shouldn't be sent.

Or perhaps we have that backward. JOHNS HOPKINS is a major medical research institution with one of the world's premiere infectious disease departments. For them to do something like this sends a message that we might need to spend more time listening too. I guess it just depends on your point of view. Do you trust medical professionals, who are very concerned about this, or do you not?

That is your decision. But just about every major world leader, national medical service, international medical service says this is a difficult problem. Just about every major professional investor has decided this is a major problem. Just about every major travel company has admitted this is a major problem.

The people claiming this is not a major problem don't tend to have those credentials or that skin in the game.

This crossed my mind as well. What do they know that we don't? But then as Ryan points out, it isn't consistent with Lacrosse. And as I pointed out, they are selective in attendees. If it's a concern, NOBODY gets in other than teams and officials. HA - If I am a parent I'm standing outside with a wad of cash ready to buy a media pass! 

[gordonmann]

So - if you're a journalist(media) its ok to be potentially exposed.
If you are a player or coach its ok to be potentially exposed
If you are an official or time keeper its ok to be potentially exposed
If you are a parent of a player it is not ok to be potentially exposed
If you are a fan it is not ok to be potentially exposed.

Media are probably free to skip the event of their own volition. If we're being honest, at this level they don't need to be there for the event to happen (and a lot of the games played this weekend won't have media other than in-house staff).

I guess they could tell everyone else to stay home and cancel the event altogether. Would that be better than taking a more measured approach?

[jknezek]

Does this have something to do with why Yeshiva is being singled out?

https://nypost.com/2020/03/04/yeshiva-university-cancels-classes-after-student-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/

Yeah. That and a rabbi at the school was also diagnosed with Covid-19. So 2 cases on campus lead to a preventative measure. Not strong enough to ban a deserving team from the tournament, but strong enough to keep the general populace out. Presumably the athletes themselves are in a low-risk bracket, young and healthy. Spectators come in all flavors. Could they have taken an even shorter half measure and allowed in students but not general population? Probably, but that could have gotten sticky.

So yes, a half measure. But a half-measure with some logic. Though many will not want to accept that.

Let's not forget that some DI basketball games have also been cancelled. CHicago State and Missouri-KC pulled out of games at Seattle University.

[WUPHF]

Geez. Would you rather have a team that  has been checked out medically and cleared for travel, or random people walking in your front door in which you have no idea if they just stepped off a plan from Italy?

If I were a low-level hotel employee in Missouri, I would have no idea what it meant when the coach said that his team was medically cleared by the State of New York.  I have to think it is the same in Maryland.

Why does the state have to medically clear a team in New York?

[gordonmann]

That's my take, too. Glad I'm not the only one, even if it's the wrong take.

[jknezek]

And, ya know, for freaking JOHNS HOPKINS, a major medical research institution which is heavily involved in the COVAD-19 effort to do something this stupid sends a message that probably shouldn't be sent.

Or perhaps we have that backward. JOHNS HOPKINS is a major medical research institution with one of the world's premiere infectious disease departments. For them to do something like this sends a message that we might need to spend more time listening too. I guess it just depends on your point of view. Do you trust medical professionals, who are very concerned about this, or do you not?

That is your decision. But just about every major world leader, national medical service, international medical service says this is a difficult problem. Just about every major professional investor has decided this is a major problem. Just about every major travel company has admitted this is a major problem.

The people claiming this is not a major problem don't tend to have those credentials or that skin in the game.

This crossed my mind as well. What do they know that we don't? But then as Ryan points out, it isn't consistent with Lacrosse. And as I pointed out, they are selective in attendees. If it's a concern, NOBODY gets in other than teams and officials. HA - If I am a parent I'm standing outside with a wad of cash ready to buy a media pass! 

What do they know that we don't? Probably not much. Lots of info has been made public. They just take it more seriously because they better understand what the information means. As for the lax game, 1) it's outside. Yes that matters. Not as much as we'd hope, but it does matter. 2) it's not against a school with a confirmed infection or 2. 3) JHU's press release said this was a case by case basis. We will see. But there are differences.

[Pat Coleman]

Does this have something to do with why Yeshiva is being singled out?

https://nypost.com/2020/03/04/yeshiva-university-cancels-classes-after-student-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/

Yeah. That and a rabbi at the school was also diagnosed with Covid-19. So 2 cases on campus lead to a preventative measure. Not strong enough to ban a deserving team from the tournament, but strong enough to keep the general populace out. Presumably the athletes themselves are in a low-risk bracket, young and healthy. Spectators come in all flavors. Could they have taken an even shorter half measure and allowed in students but not general population? Probably, but that could have gotten sticky.

So yes, a half measure. But a half-measure with some logic. Though many will not want to accept that.

Let's not forget that some DI basketball games have also been cancelled. CHicago State and Missouri-KC pulled out of games at Seattle University.

Elliot Steinmetz addressed these things in his conversation with Dave McHugh on Hoopsville last night. (The interview was recorded after the hotel canceled reservations but before the game was closed to spectators.)

https://d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2020/goldfarb-will-be-empty-for-first-weekend