NCAA cancels men’s, women’s Division I basketball tournaments amid coronavirus fears

Posted on March 12, 2020
Earlier Thursday, a long list of conferences canceled tournaments due to the coronavirus, including the Missouri Valley Conference women’s tournament in Moline. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, according to a statement Thursday.

The board also canceled all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.

“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” according to the release.

Earlier Thursday, a long list of conferences canceled tournaments due to the coronavirus, including the Missouri Valley Conference women’s tournament in Moline.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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