Single sites may be ahead

COVID model could be used in late rounds

The NCAA used the single-site concept for its marquee championship out of necessity.

Now it could become part of the tournament’s future.

A day after crowning a national champion for the first time since 2019, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt told reporters that the successful men’s college basketball tournament held primarily in Indianapolis and exclusively in Indiana could create a late-round model for future tourneys.

Whatever happens, it won’t be anytime soon — at least not by choice.

The NCAA already has awarded preliminary round games through 2026 and intends to play those games as scheduled, something it couldn’t do this year because of the COVID -19 pandemic that forced everyone to rethink how they could safely host games a year after the tournament was scrapped.

Players, coaches and staff members were tested daily for the coronavirus throughout the threeweek event. Seating capacity was capped at 25 percent in the six playing venues. Fans were required to wear masks and those in the closest contact with teams, deemed Tier 1 personnel, essentially lived in an NCAA version of a bubble.

By almost any measure, the protocols worked.

Gavitt said there were 15 positive tests among the 28,311 conducted. The 66 games drew 173,592 fans, including nearly 8,000 Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where they watched

Baylor end Gonzaga’s perfect season with an 86-70 victory.

And though the television ratings for the Final Four were down from 2019, according to Sports Business Journal, the Ucla-gonzaga game drew nearly 15 million viewers and was not only the most-watched program Saturday night but also the most watched non-football game since the beginning of the pandemic.

Uconn: Uconn senior Isaiah Whaley has decided to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility being offered to athletes by the NCAA and will return for a fifth year with the Huskies.

Depaul: Depaul has hired longtime Oregon assistant Tony Stubblefield as head coach

Iowa State: Rasir Bolton, Iowa State’s leading scorer this past season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal and will be looking to play at his third school in four years.

Nebraska: Former Chicago Bulls assistant Nate Loenser will join Nebraska as an assistant coach and Doc Sadler will become a special assistant to head coach Fred Hoiberg.

San Jose State: San Jose State has hired former Nebraska coach Tim Miles to take over the Spartans’ struggling program.

Syracuse: Villanova forward Cole Swider has signed a financial aid agreement with Syracuse and will join the men’s basketball program after three seasons with the Wildcats, the Orange announced Tuesday.

Wooden Award: Luka Garza of Iowa has won the John R. Wooden Award as the nation’s top men’s college basketball player.

Women

Uconn: Uconn guard Anna Makurat has decided to transfer.

Stanford: Stanford point guard Kiana Williams is declaring herself eligible for the WNBA draft.

Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt has fired women’s basketball coach Stephanie White after five seasons and a 46-83 record.