The cancellation of March Madness this year due to the coronavirus pandemic broke the hearts of countless fans over men of basketball and men. And questions remain as to what college basketball will look like next season, as the Pac-12 has postponed all sporting events until the end of 2020. While college basketball is certainly not ruled out for later this year or early next, time to start now to ask that the football season be in serious danger.
With the ability to play more games per week, basketball could be an advantage compared to football. While a season-long bubble similar to what the NBA or NHL have done would apparently not be possible, some short-term options have been suggested that could work to get at least some visibility of a season if needed.
NCAA Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt and Athletic Director Kentucky Mitch Barnhart, the 2021 President of the NCAA Tournament, discussed options for Madness of March with Andy Katz, and Gavitt made a strong statement.
“We’re going to have a tournament,” Gavitt said sei. “It will be special. We have our preferences about how we would like it to be, but if we have to adapt to the virus that we do not control, we will adapt it. The health and safety of the players and the coaches and all the people around the games – the referees and fans – will be primary, but in the end it will also involve establishing a national champion in the fairest and most equitable way we can under these unusual circumstances. “We will have all kinds of events and plans if necessary. We are simply not in a position to talk about that afternoon of August, because that is not our primary goal.”
That will be music to the ears of fans. And on some levels, it’s a little surprising and very encouraging to hear a great powerbroker like Gavitt say with such certainty that March Madness will happen in 2021. Fans will always wonder if Kansas could have cemented his impressive season with a national title, if Obi Toppin could have led Dayton to the Final Four and what a low seed this Cinderella would have been this year – and at least similar storylines will likely return next spring.
“It’s a cultural piece,” Barnhart said. “Something that’s so important to the fabric of spring. I’m not ready to give it up in any way, shape or form. We want to move forward. We will do everything we can to source, “and I can tell you from the committee’s perspective that we are fully committed to trying to find a way to any end in order to ensure that this tournament gives us the opportunity to play college basketball at the highest level.”
