EARLIER IN THE DAY:
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March 12, 10:52 pm: There's a slight chance the NCAA Tourney could happen based on this reporting
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
EARLIER IN THE DAY:
At a minimum, it would be kind of nice to at least know what NCAA seed we would have gotten. In addition to just curiosity on my part, this stuff also goes on lots of recruiting materials where the program lists the number of NCAA bids we’ve received, etc.
it will be interesting to see what happens over the next couple weeks
do things settle down?
can a solution be found where they can play the tournament?
who knows.....we'll see.....
Things won't settle, unfortunately (in terms of the impact of the virus). Spring breaks are upon us and the American population doesn't always make smart decisions. It will get worse before it gets better.
Shoot for a tournament in May or June.
Shoot for a tournament in May or June.
No way they'll revise canceling it. I wish they would have paused it but they can't change it now
They’ve already canceled spring championships too. Additionally, getting the television networks to coordinate this is a logistical nightmare. Just don’t see it happening unfortunately
Frustrating as heck, but plain and simple - the country is in the middle of a health crisis that isn't going to go away in a matter of weeks or even months. Despite a lot of the rhetoric on this board and elsewhere, social distancing will save thousands of lives. This whole thing really sucks but it's reality. Right now I'd worry more about football season starting on time and going unscathed more than I would trying to save basketball season.
So true ....totally impossible! Absolutely crazy think all the venues are just sitting empty wait to play some b-ball.
There are logistics, but they could be overcome if the will was there to do it. I saw a reasoned doctor in the UK share how what sports leagues are doing now (cancelling games even in empty arenas) won't really do much to stop the spread. He was adamant that closing venues to large crowds would help, but that cancelling the games altogether (players, no fans) doesn't do much. Who knows.
They could move the games to campus arenas who aren't in the tournament or smaller available arenas since crowds would not be allowed. They could figure out the TV. You can't tell me that weekday programming for Thursday and Friday of the opening round that CBS, TBS, etc usually have in the middle of May would be better than the NCAA tournament. They could do temperature checks for all coaches and players before leaving to go to games.
Hopefully the coaches have enough sway that they could get the NCAA to at least reconsider. But there are likely other issues I'm not aware of. NCAA may be worried about being sued by other spring sports that are cancelled and will not be made up.
Country could really use the distraction of NCAA tournament basketball, even in front of empty arenas. But understand people are making decisions to try and keep people safe.
In the meantime, we also have an epidemic of car accidents. Nobody should be driving and should just stay home. You could harm yourself or someone else.
This. No way all of the game sites would be available on the reschedule dates. Not to mention other potential schedule conflicts.
We're going to see a lot more cancelled events. In the age of litigation+instant outrage no business is going want to be the internet meme of the day. I can see the SJWs outside of <blank> Inc....demanding <what ever stupid thing they'd come up with> because that biz didn't close down fast enough and people got sick.
If the NBA & its players resume play & start flying around the country for the rest of the season, why can't the NCAA for 3 weekends complete its tourney?
Michigan State's Tom Izzo wonders why NCAA didn't postpone March Madness instead
CHRIS THOMAS | DETROIT FREE PRESS |
March 12, 2020
7:00 pm CT
Tom Izzo's Michigan State basketball team was peaking at the right time. Which is why Izzo is wondering what might have been had the NCAA decided to postpone March Madness instead of canceling it in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Izzo, in an interview on ESPN's SportsCenter on Thursday, said he was disappointed but understood the severity of the COVID-19 respiratory virus that has infected nearly 135,000 people and killed nearly 5,000 people worldwide. More than 1,500 people have been infected in the U.S., including at least three in Michigan. The number is growing by the day.
“I think a lot of coaches that I know (felt) that postponement would give our medical (staffs) a chance to look at this and give us a better idea,” Izzo told ESPN. "Maybe they’ve already done that and I didn’t know about it. But maybe we just felt this was going to take too long.
"It’s not fair for me to speak on it either way, but I wish we just knew a little bit more than we know right now, and that’s part of the problem.
The Spartans, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, were peaking with tournament play on the horizon, having won five straight to claim a share of the regular-season Big Ten championship with Wisconsin and Maryland.
They had surged No. 12 in the national polls and looked capable of making another run in the NCAA tournament, possibly to Izzo's ninth Final Four and second national championship.
"You think you’re playing good at the end of the year," Izzo said, "I look at Cassius Winston, he’s been through so much, and he’s working his way out of it. I just think some things are bigger than basketball.
"I just feel for the seniors. I got my seniors together so they didn’t have to hear it from the social media, my favorite enemy. It was emotional."
Chris Thomas is the sports editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at cdthomas@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @bychristhomas.
LINK: https://amp.freep.com/amp/5038605002
CHRIS THOMAS | DETROIT FREE PRESS |
March 12, 2020
7:00 pm CT
Tom Izzo's Michigan State basketball team was peaking at the right time. Which is why Izzo is wondering what might have been had the NCAA decided to postpone March Madness instead of canceling it in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Izzo, in an interview on ESPN's SportsCenter on Thursday, said he was disappointed but understood the severity of the COVID-19 respiratory virus that has infected nearly 135,000 people and killed nearly 5,000 people worldwide. More than 1,500 people have been infected in the U.S., including at least three in Michigan. The number is growing by the day.
“I think a lot of coaches that I know (felt) that postponement would give our medical (staffs) a chance to look at this and give us a better idea,” Izzo told ESPN. "Maybe they’ve already done that and I didn’t know about it. But maybe we just felt this was going to take too long.
"It’s not fair for me to speak on it either way, but I wish we just knew a little bit more than we know right now, and that’s part of the problem.
The Spartans, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, were peaking with tournament play on the horizon, having won five straight to claim a share of the regular-season Big Ten championship with Wisconsin and Maryland.
They had surged No. 12 in the national polls and looked capable of making another run in the NCAA tournament, possibly to Izzo's ninth Final Four and second national championship.
"You think you’re playing good at the end of the year," Izzo said, "I look at Cassius Winston, he’s been through so much, and he’s working his way out of it. I just think some things are bigger than basketball.
"I just feel for the seniors. I got my seniors together so they didn’t have to hear it from the social media, my favorite enemy. It was emotional."
Chris Thomas is the sports editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at cdthomas@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @bychristhomas.
LINK: https://amp.freep.com/amp/5038605002
Jees, I almost feel dirty for agreeing with Izzo on this one.....
me too.Jees, I almost feel dirty for agreeing with Izzo on this one.....
but in this case i think he is using good judgment.
The NBA just announced it is suspending for 30 days. It hasn't canceled its season and postseason yet. they are taking a wait and see approach. I wish the NCAA had done so as well as they learned more.
I really feel bad for the #1 ranked and heavily favored Iowa wrestling team, which was going for their 1st National Championship in 10 years a week from now. They were expecting crowds of 45,000 at US Bank Stadium for each session, which would have shattered attendance records.
I don’t know why the NCAA didn’t take nba approach. Let’s take a breath, make sure people get healthy and tested and reassess the situation 30 days later. Could’ve postpone things instead of flat out cancel things right away. I don’t understand the rush could’ve waited a month later and if things aren’t better then cancel. But nope mark Emmert and the ncaa screw things up again.
As for logistics lot of different routes to go. Like Fran said on espn do it late April early May. Still be a hit. Could be like the women’s tourney and have the top seeded school be the host. Even with the delay still could work look at football top teams go over a month before playing a bowl game. Kind of OT but for another sport wrestling all you had left was the championships. Tell me you couldn’t do this a month or 2 later if things improved. Those guys would be chomping at the bit ready to go. Unfortunately this will cost Iowa favorites to be national champs and spencer lee the opportunity to become iowa’s First ever 4x national champ.
As for logistics lot of different routes to go. Like Fran said on espn do it late April early May. Still be a hit. Could be like the women’s tourney and have the top seeded school be the host. Even with the delay still could work look at football top teams go over a month before playing a bowl game. Kind of OT but for another sport wrestling all you had left was the championships. Tell me you couldn’t do this a month or 2 later if things improved. Those guys would be chomping at the bit ready to go. Unfortunately this will cost Iowa favorites to be national champs and spencer lee the opportunity to become iowa’s First ever 4x national champ.
Lunardi had Iowa as a 5 seed in his final projection playing East Tennessee State. The dreaded 5 versus 12 scenario.
Postponing is pretty much impossible people ....I cant believe people think this is even close to being possible! Venues are booked....we are not talking about just one venue either! Hotels......rooms are no longer available for teams and fans unless someone can just throw one up over night! Vendors, TV ......there is a huge amount of details that going into the planning of a event of this size..... thats why it takes a full year of planning .....you can just change the date by a month and expect things to work.
This is the problem today with our society. We exaggerate so much and make everything seem absolutely dire and impossible because we are full of freaking lazy people.
So many greater things have been accomplished which were 1000 x more difficult than putting on a basketball tournament with a months notice. Give me a break. Venues? What is exactly going on indoor stadiums across the USA at that time of year? Can’t play campus hosted games? I bet CHA is just packed with events in April and May. Same with the thousands of gyms across the country.
Sure they can. They're gonna change their minds on coming down on Kansas for cheating.
Why not on something that will cost them and so many others BILLIONS of dollars in total?......
I am assuming that with the tournament cancelled and season assumed done (and conference athletic activity restrictions over next several weeks) teams can’t continue to practice, correct? Thus, how would many teams even be ready to just pick up again in one to two months?
It’s nice to read logic in a time like this.
Absolutely correct. We are talking about one of the largest & most profitable organizations, combined with schools that have deep teams of people who do nothing but handle travel & lodging logistics. Combine this with the insane pull & allure the NCAA has.. it really wouldn’t be that difficult.
The NCAA really dropped the ball. The response was a softball, here’s what it should have been.
“In an effort to protect our players and universities, we’ve decided to mandate that all conference tournaments end immediately. With the uncertainty of our nations current health, we feel this a necessary decision.
Regarding the NCAA men’s and women’s tournament:
A 30 day suspension has been put in place.
We will proceed with Selection Sunday, and all #1 seeds in open conference tournaments will be given automatic qualification, with the committee selecting the rest of the field as if the conference tournaments never began.
In the coming weeks we will continue to monitor the situation and provide as much transparency as we can.
Well put. Not sure what the NCAA was thinking. I understood the playing without fans, but why suddenly cancel? They really made a snap decision on that and got caught up with the panic. Postpone initially they can always cancel later.
Hard to reverse course after you've cancelled
Plenty of arenas available.
Just make sure you can get 2 teams and a TV crew there.
Whatever fans can make it, (on short notice,) make it. (assuming fans are are allowed)
Vendors are optional. Bathrooms are not.
And that’s that.
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why? What else do they have to put on the air? Think they would jump at this. If a network didn't want in give another one the chance
Jees, I almost feel dirty for agreeing with Izzo on this one.....
Izzo is a horrible human being. He can profess all the sympathy in the world for his players that are missing a few tournament games (and probably a big bonus for him if they do well), but not so much for the women that his players have violated over the years.
Izzo went on the Dan Patrick show and suggested it be cancelled and they did. Now he’s suggesting the other way.
Ha Ha Ha .......just that simple! If it were in-fact that simple that's what would be done! Has nothing to do with lazy people......it has to do with hundreds of pieces of a puzzle having to come together and as of today we don't even know when it could be played. Oh yeah ....graduation time is coming up too ......lets do it then...ha ha!!
Everyone saying logistics would be too difficult? I disagree. The TV networks are losing out 10-fold right now without any sports to broadcast and the venues are losing out on the tourism income they would have otherwise brought in. All of the pieces wouldn't fit back together perfectly but I don't see it as a logistical nightmare.
Of course, I'm only strictly speaking of the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
Edit: actually on second thought, and I hate to say it or admit it, but the men's tournament would probably be a lot less difficult to reschedule than the women's. But it's true.
Of course, I'm only strictly speaking of the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
Edit: actually on second thought, and I hate to say it or admit it, but the men's tournament would probably be a lot less difficult to reschedule than the women's. But it's true.
