NCAA Tournament Canceled Due to Coronavirus

Thursday, March 12, 2020
GoLocalPDX Sports Team

NCAA Tournament PHOTO: Phil Roeder/Flickr Commons

The 2020 NCAA Tournament has been canceled due to the threat of the spread of coronavirus across the country, the NCAA announced on Thursday afternoon.

The NCAA also canceled the remainder of the winter and spring NCAA Championships. 

"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as remain 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 the ongoing decisions by other entities,” the NCAA said in a statement. 

As far as basketball, the NCAA's decision follows the cancellation of 14 men’s basketball conference tournaments including the Big East and the A-10.

NCAA's Previous Plan 

As GoLocal reported, the NCAA’s original plan was to play the tournament without fans in the arenas. 

The tournament was scheduled to start on Tuesday, March 17 with the “First Four” in Dayton, Ohio. 

The first full day of games was set for Thursday, March 19.