The first major shoe has dropped around the college basketball world stemming from ongoing concerns over coronavirus.
The Ivy League announced on Tuesday that it has cancelled both the men’s and women’s postseason basketball tournaments in an unprecedented move to protect its student-athletes.
“We understand and share the disappointment with student-athletes, coaches and fans who will not be able to participate in these tournaments,” Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said, via the league’s official website. “Regrettably, the information and recommendations presented to us from public health authorities and medical professionals have convinced us that this is the most prudent decision.”
At 23-7 on the season, Yale’s men’s basketball program will earn an automatic invite to the NCAA Tournament. The same can be said for the Princeton women’s program.
We’ve seen colleges cancel classes due to the outbreak of coronavirus. But this is the first time that entire basketball league has taken such drastic action.
It comes with concerns about coronavirus growing in both the United States and abroad. Whether that impacts the NCAA Tournament later this month remains to be seen.