Remainder of tourney will go on with no fans
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Responding to growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, the ACC announced Wednesday night no fans will be permitted to attend remaining games at its men’s basketball tournament beginning with today’s quarterfinals.
After the NCAA announced Wednesday afternoon it would play its “upcoming championship events” with “only essential staff and limited family attendance,” the ACC decided to take its own measures to try to ensure the safety of fans. The Greensboro Coliseum is also supposed to host NCAA tournament men’s games next week, but the NCAA is exploring moving to smaller venues, since fans will no longer be allowed to attend.
The ACC released a statement detailing its revised tournament plans:
“In light of the rapidly changing landscape regarding COVID-19, the latest developments nationally from health authorities and today’s announcement by the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, the ACC will alter the remainder of the ACC tournament. After consultation with the league’s presidents and athletic directors, it was determined that beginning Thursday, March 12, all games will be played with only essential tournament personnel, limited school administrators and student-athlete guests, broadcast television and credentialed media members present.”
The ACC played its four Wednesday games with fans in Greensboro Coliseum.
Playing through pain
Despite dealing with facial fractures he suffered March 4 against Virginia, Miami point guard Chris Lykes played Wednesday with a protective mask in the Hurricanes’ 69-64 loss to Clemson in the second round of the ACC tournament. Leading up to the tournament, his participation was questionable at best.
“I put the mask on, and I got cleared to play, so I was able to get out there,” said Lykes, a 5-foot-7 junior who scored a game-high 21 points in 29 minutes off the bench, making 5 of 11 shots from 3-point range. “Once I’m out there, it’s no restrictions, it’s no complaints.”
Staying focused
Coming into the ACC tournament, No. 5 seed North Carolina State was the program most mentioned by bracketologists as an NCAA tournament “bubble team” out of the ACC.
After defeating Pittsburgh 73-58 in the second round to head into a quarterfinal matchup against No. 4 seed Duke, which the Wolfpack split two games with in the regular season, is there more optimism from players on N.C. State’s roster that an NCAA tournament bid is within reach?
“I feel like up to this point we have pretty good wins on our résumé, but that’s something that we’re not really focused on right now,” N.C. State guard C.J Bryce said. “We’re trying to win the conference championship.”