N.C.A.A. Basketball Tournaments Canceled Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

In Indianapolis, just moments after the Michigan sophomore Brandon Johns Jr. led his teammates into an empty arena by jokingly acknowledging a crowd that was absent, players from Michigan and Rutgers were ushered off the floor. Not long after, the Big Ten announced that the balance of its tournament, which had begun on Wednesday, would be scratched.

“It became crystal clear to me that I would recommend to our chancellors and presidents and athletic directors that we would cancel the men’s basketball tournament,” Kevin Warren, the league’s commissioner, said later.

A similar sense of unease and chaos played out at other tournament sites.

In Nashville, Alabama and Tennessee had arrived for their game, and at midmorning in Greensboro, N.C., the commissioner of the A.C.C., John Swofford, said the conference intended to proceed with games.

“Right now, we are ready to tip the afternoon session,” Swofford said. “We want to provide an opportunity to continue to compete in this tournament for our players.”

The tournament was canceled less than two hours later.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/sports/ncaabasketball/ncaa-basketball-tournament-coronavirus.html