2020 NCAA Tournament

[Roundball999]

This seems a good compromise.  Prevents large gathering but also allows family to see their student athletes.  In Hope's case, one of the reasons they lead attendance year after year is they've built a large local fan base from the the local retirement communities, a higher risk population.

[VT-Alum-NOVA]

CNU MBB only allowing limited family

[7express]

This decision once again proves that just when you think an ounce of common sense has made it's way to NCAA leadership, nonsense like this happens.

Having these kids held hostage by an internal decision by Amherst is just plain wrong.

Amherst has every right to do what they think is right for their school & their students.

However, once that decision impacts 3 other schools from across the country, then all bets should be off the table for hosting rights & the games should be moved.

Have family & friends that have followed you all year fly across the country to sit in a hotel room 10 miles from the games & watch on a computer.

How freakin fan friendly can you get?

I wonder if UConn will close the doors tonight?

I've definitely wavered on the "no fans in attendance" policy I stood by on Sunday.  After hearing the CIAC over in Connecticut decided to cancel the rest of the winter sports season instead of holding the rest of the tournament in an empty gym and seeing high school seniors ending their careers having the rug pulled out from under them; playing in an empty arena than not having to play at all.  I just wish the CIAC would reverse their decision and let those players finish their career.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well, Hope finally succumbed - sort of. 

"Only the following attendees will be allowed access to the games: credentialed team members, and essential personnel.  A limited number of tickets will be made available for student-athlete family members.

Friday's games will be held in a split session. Spectators will be required to clear the fieldhouse between games. At 4:30 p.m., Loras College (Iowa) will play the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. At 7:30 p.m., Hope College will play Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio). "

Hope had a governor and local health officials (who they have been following for advice on this) indicate they needed to do this ... there is also a student on campus that has been tested for COVID-19 (though, test results are not back last I heard).

[GoPerry]

It's a bold move by the NCAA and I commend them for taking the difficult action.

Whether this is an over-reaction or not is almost immaterial.  If the public needs to see and feel the severity of the problem, this is a big step towards that.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It's a bold move by the NCAA and I commend them for taking the difficult action.

Whether this is an over-reaction or not is almost immaterial.  If the public needs to see and feel the severity of the problem, this is a big step towards that.

Won't disagree for the most part ... but sometimes these decisions also cause more panic in the public. It is a slippery slope. I think a lot of this was caused by some places (leave that open to interruption) panicking or overreacting ... and now everyone is doing it causing possibly more panic.

[VT-Alum-NOVA]

Imo, I do not see D3 WBB going forward with final 4 next weekend at this point.  Makes me wonder about this weekend and how current news will affect psychologically the players?  if NBA has suspended play and NCAA D1 doing tournaments sans fans .... and NHL with MLB mulling suspending season as well ...

[Ron Boerger]

With the NESCAC and other schools shutting campuses down to students and going to "remote instruction" for the remainder of the school year it may rapidly become a moot point.   Emory did this yesterday (though there has been no mention as of yet regarding athletics), Trinity (TX) announced they're shutting down all athletics and campus activities for the semester March 23, etc...

[HOPEful]

Well, Hope finally succumbed - sort of. 

"Only the following attendees will be allowed access to the games: credentialed team members, and essential personnel.  A limited number of tickets will be made available for student-athlete family members.

Friday's games will be held in a split session. Spectators will be required to clear the fieldhouse between games. At 4:30 p.m., Loras College (Iowa) will play the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. At 7:30 p.m., Hope College will play Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio). "

Hope had a governor and local health officials (who they have been following for advice on this) indicate they needed to do this ... there is also a student on campus that has been tested for COVID-19 (though, test results are not back last I heard).

Results came back negative. Not that it dramatically changes the narrative.

Hope has also made all classes ONLINE until April 12th.

[CNU85]

Just heard ACC tournament (and all 5 Power Conferences now) have ended their tournaments. Flroida State and Clemson were in pregame warmups when the decision came down.

[CNU85]

I'm willing to bet NCAA terminates D3 tournament today

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm willing to bet NCAA terminates D3 tournament today

Maybe.  I think it's more likely they do it after this weekend.  D3 basketball and hockey teams playing this weekend have already traveled and are on site.  Without fans there's not really an increased risk of playing those games.  Anything is possible, though - I'm sitting here waiting for the announcements even as I say "maybe not."

[jamtod]

I'm willing to bet NCAA terminates D3 tournament today

Maybe.  I think it's more likely they do it after this weekend.  D3 basketball and hockey teams playing this weekend have already traveled and are on site.  Without fans there's not really an increased risk of playing those games.  Anything is possible, though - I'm sitting here waiting for the announcements even as I say "maybe not."

By this logic, how do all of the major D1 conferences make the justification to cancel the tournaments while teams are warming up?
I know it's different sets of decision makers and a prudential decision, but I don't see how this doesn't end up filtering down to D3 by the time we get to tomorrow's games.

And the NBA situation with Gobert and now Mitchell might be an outlier, but it's the kind of risk that weighs in folks minds when making these decisions.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm willing to bet NCAA terminates D3 tournament today

Maybe.  I think it's more likely they do it after this weekend.  D3 basketball and hockey teams playing this weekend have already traveled and are on site.  Without fans there's not really an increased risk of playing those games.  Anything is possible, though - I'm sitting here waiting for the announcements even as I say "maybe not."

By this logic, how do all of the major D1 conferences make the justification to cancel the tournaments while teams are warming up?
I know it's different sets of decision makers and a prudential decision, but I don't see how this doesn't end up filtering down to D3 by the time we get to tomorrow's games.

And the NBA situation with Gobert and now Mitchell might be an outlier, but it's the kind of risk that weighs in folks minds when making these decisions.

Those tournaments don't mean anything for the national title.  We all know D1 conference tourneys are cash grabs.  It's not like someone will win the ACC tournament who wouldn't get in anyway.  Maybe they'll cancel the D1 tourney or postpone it until May or whatever, but the outcome of these games makes no difference either way.

[GoPerry]

I'm willing to bet NCAA terminates D3 tournament today

Maybe.  I think it's more likely they do it after this weekend.  D3 basketball and hockey teams playing this weekend have already traveled and are on site.  Without fans there's not really an increased risk of playing those games.  Anything is possible, though - I'm sitting here waiting for the announcements even as I say "maybe not."

By this logic, how do all of the major D1 conferences make the justification to cancel the tournaments while teams are warming up?
I know it's different sets of decision makers and a prudential decision, but I don't see how this doesn't end up filtering down to D3 by the time we get to tomorrow's games.

And the NBA situation with Gobert and now Mitchell might be an outlier, but it's the kind of risk that weighs in folks minds when making these decisions.

Those tournaments don't mean anything for the national title.  We all know D1 conference tourneys are cash grabs.  It's not like someone will win the ACC tournament who wouldn't get in anyway.  Maybe they'll cancel the D1 tourney or postpone it until May or whatever, but the outcome of these games makes no difference either way.

Meanwhile, I'm watching the Players Championship on TV . . .  thousands of people in the galleries and not exactly practicing the 6 ft social distancing guideline.  Perhaps the risk of transmission is less outdoors but Idk.

But now I see they'll not allow fans starting tomorrow.