What has seemed inevitable for the last half day is now official: The college basketball season is over.
The NCAA has announced that the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments have been canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/p4vCzvzmvo pic.twitter.com/yqAHak4HO5
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 12, 2020
The NCAA announced the news in a release. It reads in full, “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. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.”
The move comes as sports are being shut down across the United States and world. The NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. The MLB and MLS followed suit Thursday morning, as has professional tennis. Conference tournaments have been canceled across the country, as have high school postseason tournaments. Arizona State, Duke and Kansas were among the first college programs to shut down all athletics, essentially withdrawing from any potential tournament. The entire Mountain West Conference suspended athletics mid-day Thursday. A number of schools have canceled spring athletics, including football games, practices, and recruiting efforts. Premier League matches in England have been postponed, as have Champions League matches. La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league, has suspended play as well. Italy has ceased most operations within the country, including sports.
This will be the first time the NCAA Tournament will not be played since its inception in 1939.
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