We are now into May and with COVID-19 still at full throttle, so it is no doubt premature to speculate about the sports world and specifically women’s basketball for the upcoming season. Still, it is an interesting exercise to think about these matters. The mavens of big time college football must be particularly stressed right now.
In CT, about one half of all deaths come from nursing homes, the most vulnerable part of our population, and in MN the median death age is over 80 with a vast majority of deaths in nursing homes. This demonstrates something that we all know, that the elderly with underlying health issues are the most vulnerable cohort of the population.
Since the most devoted audience for UConn women’s basketball is among the older population, precisely the group that are most likely to die from the disease and probably most hesitant about resuming a normal life, what effect will this have on future attendance? Assuming, of course, that games will not be played in vacant arenas.
Most UConn basketball players normally do one of two things during the summer months, play for various US international teams or attend summer school to get ahead on college credits, work out, bond, and informally practice. It seems obvious to me that international tournaments are out of the question for this year and, if the Storrs campus does not reopen, the opportunities to get college credits and work out are lessened. What effect will this have on conditioning and to reap the improvements that usually come from year to year? Incoming students particularly benefit from summer school and what will be the pace of their development if this opportunity is denied?
What about international players Anna Makurat and Nika Muhl? Will they be able to fly back to the US for summer school or for the beginning of the new academic year?
What will be the workout regimens of Olivia Nelson-Odoba, Christyn Williams, and the injured Evina Westbrook?
And speaking of the 2020-21 academic year, will it begin and go on as scheduled? When will students be allowed back on campus? When will social distancing guidelines be lessened or done away with? What is going to happen if students or those associated with the basketball program get a positive disease diagnosis?
Will the basketball season begin in mid-November? Postponement until, say, January will present no great tragedy, but how will the season play out? Will the season be shortened by reducing the number of games to around 20 and the limiting travel?
Since college and universities are taking a huge financial hit from the disease, will the salaries of the coaches and trainers be cut back? Such has already occurred at a couple of universities. Can Geno keep paying the bills if his salary is reduced? Perhaps we need to take up a collection for him.
So much to think about and so much time to contemplate these matters.
In CT, about one half of all deaths come from nursing homes, the most vulnerable part of our population, and in MN the median death age is over 80 with a vast majority of deaths in nursing homes. This demonstrates something that we all know, that the elderly with underlying health issues are the most vulnerable cohort of the population.
Since the most devoted audience for UConn women’s basketball is among the older population, precisely the group that are most likely to die from the disease and probably most hesitant about resuming a normal life, what effect will this have on future attendance? Assuming, of course, that games will not be played in vacant arenas.
Most UConn basketball players normally do one of two things during the summer months, play for various US international teams or attend summer school to get ahead on college credits, work out, bond, and informally practice. It seems obvious to me that international tournaments are out of the question for this year and, if the Storrs campus does not reopen, the opportunities to get college credits and work out are lessened. What effect will this have on conditioning and to reap the improvements that usually come from year to year? Incoming students particularly benefit from summer school and what will be the pace of their development if this opportunity is denied?
What about international players Anna Makurat and Nika Muhl? Will they be able to fly back to the US for summer school or for the beginning of the new academic year?
What will be the workout regimens of Olivia Nelson-Odoba, Christyn Williams, and the injured Evina Westbrook?
And speaking of the 2020-21 academic year, will it begin and go on as scheduled? When will students be allowed back on campus? When will social distancing guidelines be lessened or done away with? What is going to happen if students or those associated with the basketball program get a positive disease diagnosis?
Will the basketball season begin in mid-November? Postponement until, say, January will present no great tragedy, but how will the season play out? Will the season be shortened by reducing the number of games to around 20 and the limiting travel?
Since college and universities are taking a huge financial hit from the disease, will the salaries of the coaches and trainers be cut back? Such has already occurred at a couple of universities. Can Geno keep paying the bills if his salary is reduced? Perhaps we need to take up a collection for him.
So much to think about and so much time to contemplate these matters.
