What Options Should The NCAA Consider If They Feel The Need To Make Any Changes To This Year's Tourneys? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

What Options Should The NCAA Consider If They Feel The Need To Make Any Changes To This Year's Tourneys?

One other factor to consider if the NCAA decides to play in empty arenas is that the issue of geographical factors in regional placements becomes moot. If fans can't attend then why worry where teams play? Just assign teams based on the S-curve. Sure, keep conference foes apart until the regional finals but there's no need for Louisville to go to Fort Wayne if they aren't the top 2 seed.
 
Alydar said:
One other factor to consider if the NCAA decides to play in empty arenas is that the issue of geographical factors in regional placements becomes moot. If fans can't attend then why worry where teams play? Just assign teams based on the S-curve. Sure, keep conference foes apart until the regional finals but there's no need for Louisville to go to Fort Wayne if they aren't the top 2 seed.
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OTOH, I'm sure the Louisville team and staff would much prefer to rent a bus and drive than have to fly. Much lower risk of transmission that way. I would argue that geography becomes more important now than in ordinary times.
 
Alydar said:
One other factor to consider if the NCAA decides to play in empty arenas is that the issue of geographical factors in regional placements becomes moot. If fans can't attend then why worry where teams play? Just assign teams based on the S-curve. Sure, keep conference foes apart until the regional finals but there's no need for Louisville to go to Fort Wayne if they aren't the top 2 seed.
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Good point.
 
Alydar said:
One other factor to consider if the NCAA decides to play in empty arenas is that the issue of geographical factors in regional placements becomes moot. If fans can't attend then why worry where teams play? Just assign teams based on the S-curve. Sure, keep conference foes apart until the regional finals but there's no need for Louisville to go to Fort Wayne if they aren't the top 2 seed.
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No, this is not true. The NCAA would still have to pay for team travel. A major reason for heeding the 350-mile "driving distance" threshold is cost control on travel reimbursement.
 
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Zinethar said:
Best advice to NCAA - turn off the 24/7 news and social media and use your head. This is panic caused on purpose by media. Four (4) people in Connecticut get it and there is a travel ban. 4!!! .0001% of population of about 4 million. Less dangerous than the normal flu (20000 deaths). Come on folks get a grip!
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Interesting that no one rose to your bait.

The problem is that too few people have been tested, nationwide (through no fault of their own) to know how prevalent and widespread the virus is within the general population.

I think that the "panic" you note is not so much media driven, rather by professionals and knowledgable policy makers who have studied the spread of such pathogens and are scared stiff that we already have widespread, community infection.

And it is clear that in my case with a recent heart operation and a seasonal sinus infection, I would be a dead duck if infected.

This is very much a board of seniors who have to take reasonable precautions.

Taking the position that this is a "plot"or some form of hysteria will likely not play here.
 
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Centerstream said:
On a serious note, cancel the tournament. This is about Collegiate Athletics and the students, alumni and their fans are more important to the game and tournament than ESPN, CBS and Turner Broadcasting.
Crown SC as NC, obviously with an *.
I don't think that anyone disagrees at this point that they are the best team.
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I disagree. I don't see them or anyone beating Oregon on a neutral floor.
 
Plebe said:
The major polls mean diddly beyond just media coverage. It's just a collection of individual opinions, which as you say, don't have import. Might as well leave it up to the Boneyard to choose the national champion.
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If they cancel the tournament, I vote for this. Easily the most objective method of choosing a national champion!
 
Plebe said:
Well, then they can always raise a banner in their arena that says "Number One In the Polls for a While" :)
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I am only voicing my opinion of a NC* IF the tournament is canceled and the NCAA decides to "anoint" a NC.
BTW, I do think that the odds are better that a BYer is going to win the Powerball than the NCAA "anointing" a NC without having a tournament.
 
TheFarmFan said:
OTOH, I'm sure the Louisville team and staff would much prefer to rent a bus and drive than have to fly. Much lower risk of transmission that way. I would argue that geography becomes more important now than in ordinary times.
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Good point but the teams that fly use charter flights. There is certainly no shortage of empty planes.
 
BobbyJ said:
I disagree. I don't see them or anyone beating Oregon on a neutral floor.
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And I would like to see that game too (SC and Oregon).
I believe that the NC should be decided on the court with the 4 best teams in the FF.
 
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Plebe said:
No, this is not true. The NCAA would still have to pay for team travel. A major reason for heeding the 350-mile "driving distance" threshold is cost control on travel reimbursement.
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The amount spent on travel is a drop in the bucket compared to what the NCAA earns in the tournaments (men & women). An event that generates billions shouldn't have to worry about the cost-savings in having a dozen more teams ride buses instead of flying. The only real reason for keeping teams close to home is attendance, not plane costs.
 
No fans allowed at the NCAA Div 3 game up the road in Amherst.
By Ken Goe | The Oregonian/OregonLive

The George Fox Bruins leave Wednesday morning to fly across the country to Amherst, Massachusetts, for a game in the NCAA Division IIII Women’s Basketball Tournament round of 16.

The unranked Bruins (23-6) meet No. 7 Amherst (24-4) on Friday in the second half of a doubleheader. But Amherst College won’t allow spectators into the gym as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
 
Zinethar said:
Best advice to NCAA - turn off the 24/7 news and social media and use your head. This is panic caused on purpose by media. Four (4) people in Connecticut get it and there is a travel ban. 4!!! .0001% of population of about 4 million. Less dangerous than the normal flu (20000 deaths). Come on folks get a grip!
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I could not agree more.
 
Zinethar said:
Best advice to NCAA - turn off the 24/7 news and social media and use your head. This is panic caused on purpose by media. Four (4) people in Connecticut get it and there is a travel ban. 4!!! .0001% of population of about 4 million. Less dangerous than the normal flu (20000 deaths). Come on folks get a grip!
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The relatively small number of deaths are insignificant until one of them happen to be someone you love.
 
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I haven't read any of the other suggestions, so I apologize if I'm being redundant in suggesting a one-week or a two-week delay.

As most people, according to what I read earlier today I don't remember where, develop symptoms within five days, in another week or two if a sizable amount of people, of all ages and health profiles, are gravely ill, then cancellation is the obvious choice.

If that doesn't happen, then a tournament should be able to be conducted under some set of rules in some sort of an environment.
 
One issue with the virus at this moment is the lack of timely testing available all around the country. The number of labs set up to test, and the speed at which results are available is a real problem at this moment. That is beginning to change but part of the expansion that is being seen in 'number of confirmed cases is a direct result of the ability to perform the tests. Not sure how CT is set up at this moment, but know from direct conversation with an ER doctor in VT that at the moment it takes 2-3 days to get a test processed. And that is a major improvement from a week ago.

Empty gyms for the tournament is probably step one and should probably be announced immediately before the brackets are announced and fans start booking.

I think any further decisions could wait for a week and could be reviewed after each weekend. If the spread continues to accelerate, then ending the tournament would be on the table.
 
Kaizen said:
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Just heard an interview with the Penn MBB coach, whose team just made a herculean late-season push to earn a spot in the Ivy League's 4-team tournament. He said, in addition to the disappointment of the team's amazing effort now all-of-a-sudden having been for nothing, there is the frustration that the school's other sports are continuing to play "business as usual", and only basketball is getting their big event canceled.
 
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The NCAA decision might be the precedent setter for all sports. Since March Madness is the next Big event on the sports calendar we shall see how teams will go forward in the major leagues. I believe the next big sports event, in technically a sport but not really a sport, is Wrestlemania on Sunday April 5th in Tampa. It is at an outdoors stadium that can seat 80K. The WWE Management is looking at options.
 
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Centerstream said:
On a serious note, cancel the tournament. This is about Collegiate Athletics and the students, alumni and their fans are more important to the game and tournament than ESPN, CBS and Turner Broadcasting.
Crown SC as NC, obviously with an *.
I don't think that anyone disagrees at this point that they are the best team.
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Not an attack but this is silly as silly gets. I hope they do what is right for the health of all, but anointing a champion of The NCAA Tournament with out having a tournament is simply silly. There is a reason they play the game an old axiom. Another being on a given day.
There is no team without a loss and no reason to assume who would win with out playing. Teams peak at different times as do players, I like the way UConn has upped their game recently. Will not accept defeat in a game not played.
 
JavaMan said:
Things are changing by the day, if not the hour. I'm certainly not an alarmist, but I do like to think of myself as a realist. Aside from the tradition and financial issues, which are major to be sure, there are also potentially life or death issues. Even if the NCAA doesn't outright cancel the tournaments, do you think some schools will elect to skip this year's tournaments. Grammar schools to Graduate schools around the country are already cancelling academic and sporting events...and on-campus classes. The first two rounds of the NCAA Division III tournament in Maryland were already played without spectators. There have been a plethora of major cancellations around the world. Not all are sports related. Entertainment, business, marketing, and on and on have not been spared. And it's going to get worse before it gets better.

At this time and date my option would be that all games will be played, but without spectators. Further, any school that backs out will not be penalized in any way. A default win to the opponent of the absent team. But then what about a scheduled game where both teams have elected to skip? Sadly, I think this is going to be a mess. Hope I'm wrong. I don't even want to think of the potential of an infection break-out having originated at one of the tournament venues.

Also, if a complete tournament cancellation comes to pass this year...then what?

Ideas...sans smart a** commnets?
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I agree with you, unfortunately, one hundred per cent JavaMan. Not sure we have even seen the tip of the iceberg. Our Grandson is graduating from the Pre-Buds programs at the Great Lakes and we just found out today that no spectators will be admitted to the graduation ceremonies and that there will be no liberty allowed off base until further notice. Things change.
 
UCLA not allowing home sporting events. Wonder if that makes them give up hosting rounds one and two?
 
bschwartz said:
The relatively small number of deaths are insignificant until one of them happen to be someone you love.
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Obviously true, so why not cancel public gatherings during flu season, where in the US alone upwards of 30,000 people die annually? Or do the deaths by corona virus carry more sorrow than those by strains of influenza?1 Why not ban cars because of all the highway deaths? One could go on and on and it is pointless and cruel but unfortunately, also true that we all die. I am a free, thinking person and choose not to live in a bubble but rather use the intelligence and common sense I possess to protect myself as much as I see fit. I don’t need or want “leaders” to do that for me.
 
UCBaller2012 said:
UCLA not allowing home sporting events. Wonder if that makes them give up hosting rounds one and two?
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This will be most schools by this weekend, so I doubt it. Either everyone does this, or there won't be a tournament at all. (Which may happen anyway.)
 
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