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The 2020 NCAA tournament for both men and women has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCAA announced the decision to cancel the basketball tournaments along with the remaining winter and spring championship events on Thursday afternoon.
Here’s the NCAA’s official statement:
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/p4vCzvzmvo pic.twitter.com/yqAHak4HO5
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 12, 2020
The conference tournaments that lead into the NCAA tournament were each individually canceled on Thursday. While fans were still in the stands at the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 tournaments on Wednesday, public pressure was mounting to cancel the tournaments after the NBA’s push to suspended the season following Rudy Gobert’s positive test for the virus.
Only one day earlier, the NCAA said it would limit attendance at all events to include only essential staff and limited family.
NCAA President Mark Emmert statement on limiting attendance at NCAA events: https://t.co/TIHHJjdse5 pic.twitter.com/8I1HdceDfN
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 11, 2020
The rest of college basketball promptly followed suit by banning fans for Thursday. By late afternoon, every conference tournament and the NCAA tournament were all canceled because of the pandemic. We tracked the closing of each conference tournament below.
The Big Ten tournament has been canceled
The Big Ten Tournament is cancelled.
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) March 12, 2020
Before Thursday’s games, the Big Ten released a statement, saying it would play without fans in attendance. Now, it’s canceled.
The SEC tournament has been canceled
A day after deciding to play without fans, the SEC has changed its decision and canceled the tournament.
ALERT: Based on the latest developments and the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Southeastern Conference today announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2020 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville.
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 12, 2020
The Big East tournament has been canceled
After playing one half of its first game on Thursday (St. John’s vs. Creighton), the Big East tournament has been canceled.
The Big East has canceled its tournament. … after halftime of the first game.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2020
The ACC tournament has been canceled
Now official: The ACC Tournament is canceled.
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) March 12, 2020
Fans were allowed in the stands for the first two days of the ACC tournament, then on Wednesday, the league made the decision to limit attendance following the NCAA’s decision, and on Thursday, the tournament was canceled.
The American Athletic Conference will cancel its tournament
BREAKING: The AAC tournament is going to be cancelled, per a source. First domino to fall.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 12, 2020
The Western Athletic Conference canceled its tournament
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) March 12, 2020
The Atlantic-10 tournament has been canceled
A-10 tourney. Canceled.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2020
The Conference USA tournament has been canceled
Officially cancelled - CUSA https://t.co/E6mPPeVGuM
— Noah Coslov (@NoahCoslov) March 12, 2020
The Big 12 is canceling its tournament
A day after announcing it’d limit teams to 125 tickets for staff and guests, the Big 12 is canceling its tournament.
The Big 12 is also canceling their tournament...it’s the right move
— Bob Wischusen (@espnbob) March 12, 2020
After playing their first round on Thursday in front of fans in Kansas City, the Big 12 limited teams to only 125 tickets per team.
The Pac-12 tournament has been canceled
Sources have confirmed that the Pac-12 tournament has been cancelled.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) March 12, 2020
After playing the opening round of its tournament in front of fans in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the Pac-12 decided to limit attendance for the remainder of the tournament. Then on Thursday, it was canceled.
The Sun Belt has canceled its tournament
The Sun Belt has officially cancelled their tournament, a source told NBC Sports.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) March 12, 2020
The Big Sky has canceled its tournament
Source: The Big Sky has cancelled its conference tournament due to Coronavirus.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
The Southland has canceled its conference tournament
The Southland has cancelled its conference tournament, per release.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
The America East is expected to cancel its championship game
Source: The America East is expected to cancel its title game on Saturday between Hartford and Vermont.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
The Big West tournament has been canceled
Source: The Big West has cancelled its conference tournament due to Coronavirus.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
The Ivy League has canceled its conference tournament
The Ivy League has decided to cancel the League's upcoming Basketball Tournaments and implement highly-restrictive, in-venue spectator limitations for all other upcoming campus athletics events.
— The Ivy League (@IvyLeague) March 10, 2020
» https://t.co/Y4nEjbsh0N pic.twitter.com/8zsrweXVXo
The Ivy League has decided to send its regular-season champions, Yale, to the NCAA tournament rather than play a conference tournament. This is the way the Ivy League used to always determine its champion, with the regular-season winner going to the NCAAs until the league adopted a conference tournament format in 2017.
Harvard, which was set to host the tournament, was going to be the No. 2 seed in the field even after beating Yale twice during the regular season. The Crimson also won the Ivy League regular season the last two years but failed to make the NCAA tournament after losing in the conference tournament.
The MAC tournaments will be closed to the general public
The Big East has canceled its tournament. … after halftime of the first game.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2020
Source: The Big West has cancelled its conference tournament due to Coronavirus.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
Official statement regarding upcoming MAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament pic.twitter.com/reCRnnd0ML
— #MACtion (@MACSports) March 10, 2020
Prior to the game, players and staff are having their temperatures checked and clearedby team doctors before tipoff, per Jeff Goodman.
Stony Brook has suspended ticket sales for the America East tournament
TO ALL FANS:
— Stony Brook MBB (@StonyBrookMBB) March 10, 2020
Ticket sales to tonight's contest have been suspended. If you already bought one, your admission will be honored. If you have not, you can view the game on ESPN+.@stonybrooku students: your admission is still free with a valid student ID. pic.twitter.com/yVu5SrroL4
As Stony Brook faces Hartford in the America East tournament, the school as suspended ticket sales for fans who have not already purchased them. Previously purchased ticket will be honored. The school has already released information on a precautionary quarantine initiative.
Ohio’s governor has recommended no fans at March Madness games
Just in: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has recommended there be NO spectators allowed for indoor sports activities, including high school, college and professional teams
— Matt Wright Fox 8 (@mattwrighttv) March 10, 2020
The First Four is hosted in Dayton every year. Cleveland is also hosting a regional this year. Will fans be allowed at games?
The College Basketball Invitational (CBI) is canceled
Statement regarding the 2020 CBI pic.twitter.com/5SPabjpC1V
— College BBall Invit. (@CBITourney) March 11, 2020