Last week, the NCAA announced that the NCAA Tournament would go on as planned, despite the Coronavirus outbreak. However, their tone has changed in an updated statement released Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine asked for indoor sporting events to be played without spectators.
Since that occurred, this is the latest statement from the NCAA:
Dayton is scheduled to host the First Four of the NCAA Tournament next Tuesday and Wednesday. Also, there are First and Second Round games scheduled to take place in Cleveland.
Elsewhere, Washington Governor Jay Inslee is reportedly going to announce Wednesday that gatherings of more than 250 people, including at sporting events and concerts, will be restricted.
Currently, Spokane (WA) is set to host NCAA Tournament games in the First and Second Round, so it sounds like they’ll definitely be played with little to no fan attendance.
The idea that some, if not all of the tournament be played without spectators is starting to look more realistic.
As of right now, the NCAA Tournament is still scheduled to go on as usual, but we will all have the NCAA’s final decision in the coming days.