NCAA considered 16-team fields to save tournaments
As it became apparent the NCAA basketball tournaments could not be held during their usual three-week window because of concerns about the coronavirus, organizers scrambled to devise a plan for a 16-team event to salvage the postseason in one long weekend.
NCAA vice president of men’s basketball Dan Gavitt told AP on Friday that he started to consider ways of condensing the tournament Wednesday night after the NBA announced one of its players tested positive for the virus and the league suspended its season. But the reality set in that even a shortened tournament could not be pulled off without putting people at risk, and the NCAA’s biggest event of the year was canceled Thursday afternoon.
Gavitt said the hope was to play games starting March 26 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The city had been scheduled to host the Final Four at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The idea was to have the selection committee choose the top 16 teams in the country, regardless of conference, to participate. The first three rounds would have been played from March 26-28, with a championship game on March 30. Gavitt said he believes eight or nine of the 32 Division I conferences could have been represented.
“Far from ideal. Far from perfect,” Gavitt said. “Imperfect as it may be, that was one of the only reasonable options we thought we could at least maintain some level of our tournaments.”
Gavitt said there was some hope early Thursday a full tournament could still be played. As that faded, the idea of holding a smaller event got “mixed interest” from committee.
“There was a real concern about not being inclusive enough, with only 16 teams,” Gavitt said. “But the other thing that was in play at that point in committee members’ minds, and we saw this play out at conference tournaments, once an NBA player was infected, I think it started to really hit home for the players, from what I’ve heard from coaches by text message and anecdotally.”
Emmert said he was open to reconsidering spring championships.
“If I have learned anything from this it’s to be reminded to never say never,” Emmert told AP. “And so the answer to that is of course the board and everyone else will consider anything that makes good public policy sense . ... Sitting here today that’s very hard to imagine.”
MMA
UFC’S WHITE SCOFFS AT CANCELLATIONS >> While leagues and organizers across sports canceled or delayed competition this week, the UFC proceeded with its plans to hold a fanfree event Saturday night in Brasilia, Brazil. Next weekend, the promotion still plans to stage a full fight card with fans inside London’s O2 Arena.
The UFC hasn’t canceled any competitions, even those previously scheduled for areas where large gatherings are now banned. Instead, the promotion has moved events scheduled for March 28 in Columbus, Ohio, and April 11 in Portland, Oregon, to the new UFC Apex complex in Las Vegas, where it has a small arena and television production capabilities.
UFC President Dana White attributes his decision to go against the sports world’s collective mindset partly to a conversation Thursday with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. White and Trump are longtime friends and business associates.
“I talked to the president and the vice president of the United States about this,” White said on ESPN, his promotion’s broadcast partner. “They’re taking this very serious. They’re saying, ‘Be cautious, be careful, but live your life and stop panicking.’ Everybody is panicking, and instead of panicking, we’re actually getting out there and working with doctors and health officials and the government to figure out how we can keep the sport safe and how we can continue to put on events.”
The UFC won’t have fans in the stands in Brasilia or Las Vegas, but the competition will go on — and more importantly to the fighters, they’ll get paid in a sport that usually provides no financial compensation unless a fight actually takes place.
“I would bet more than half of fighters would expose themselves to coronavirus before not getting to fight,” welterweight Anthony Rocco Martin said.
“I’m good with fighting in an empty arena,” tweeted Kevin Lee, who will compete in the main event in Brasilia. “Let’s not panic too crazy, let us fight, entertain the people stuck at home.”
NBA
STARS OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT >> New Orleans Pelicans star rookie Zion Williamson said on Instagram that he would cover salaries for all workers at the Smoothie King Center for 30 days. “This is a small way for me to express my support and appreciation for these wonderful people who have been so great to me,” Williamson wrote.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo said he and his family planned to donate $100,000 to staff members at the Fiserv Forum.
Cleveland’s Kevin Love announced he was donating $100,000 to his team’s arena support staff and called on others to make similar gestures. Pistons forward Blake Griffin followed up and reportedly will donate $100,000 to staff at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena.
NFL
SMITH SEEKS RETURN >> Former firstround pick and 49ers standout pass rusher Aldon Smith is in the process of applying for reinstatement to the NFL, according to Jim Trotter of the NFL Network.
Smith hasn’t been in the league since he played with the Raiders 2015 after a series of legal and personal issues led to an indefinite suspension. Smith has been arrested a handful of times, including over a domestic violence accusation in November 2018 and several DUI arrests.