Mohegan Sun assessing all basketball bubble options

More details have begun to emerge regarding Mohegan Sun potentially serving as a bubble site for college basketball this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Mohegan is considering three different windows in which it would stage non-conference events on the men’s side.

The first window would run from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4 and include the Legends Classic, Empire Classic, and Hall of Fame Tip-Off. UConn is slated to compete in the Legends Classic, along with Notre Dame, USC and Vanderbilt.

The second and third windows would be from Dec. 7-10 and Dec. 15-20, respectively.

When asked Friday about Rothstein’s report, Mohegan Sun chief marketing officer Dave Martinelli said nothing had been finalized and that the arena was still assessing its options.

“We could have multiple games within the timeframe mentioned,” Martinelli wrote in an email.

He added: “We are being flexible with dates now that 11/25 is the start date, and whether it is 2 or 3 bubbles, we have a lot of date options to choose from.”

The NCAA announced Wednesday the season will tip off Nov. 25 instead of Nov. 10 due to the coronavirus. Starting the season before Thanksgiving will give schools a two-month window to play without classes in session, easing some logistical and socialdistancing concerns.

But, as schools consider bubble sites, Mohegan Sun is standing out as an appealing option because of its location and amenities. On top of that, Mohegan has successfully hosted multiple boxing and MMA events during the pandemic.

Mohegan also remains committed to hosting the Women’s Hall of Fame Challenge — a four-team tournament featuring UConn, Quinnipiac, Mississippi State and Maine — on Nov. 28-29.

“The HOF women’s tournament is still planned, and we are working to make sure it works for all teams involved,” Martinelli said.