A March without the madness that is the NCAA College Basketball Tournament is a reality that many thought that they would never see.
Fast forward to Thursday afternoon and the NCAA dropped the bombshell that the rest of the winter and spring championship tournaments would be canceled.
“Today, NCAA president Mark Emmert and the board of governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships,” the NCAA announced. “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decision by other entities.”
This comes just one day after the NCAA announced that it would go on with the NCAA Tournament but would do so without allowing the general public to attend.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) was deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.
This is the latest in a series of announcements of suspensions and cancelations, starting with the NBA on Wednesday night. The MLS and NHL followed suit and the MLB has pushed back opening day at least two weeks. Numerous other sports organizations canceled, suspended or postponed their events as well.