Michigan Basketball: NCAA Tournament not likely, teams bowing out

It’s highly unlikely Michigan basketball will be able to participate in the NCAA tournament with several teams already declaring they want no part of it.

Michigan basketball‘s chances at a National Championship were already slim to none, but now, it seems, they won’t get the opportunity to compete considering how unlikely it is that the tournament will happen. Several top-ranked programs, including Kansas and Duke, have publicly announced that even if there is a tournament, they won’t participate.

Earlier today, while Michigan basketball players were warming up and getting ready to take on nine seed Rutgers, the Big Ten Tournament was canceled due to fear for the safety of all of those involved. The conference event began as usual, but very quickly the conference leaders, and the NCAA, decided that allowing fans into the stadium to observe the festivities wasn’t be the best idea.

“The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel,” President Mark Emmert’s statement read. “Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance.”

Hours after the announcement, and hours before the no fan rule took hold, Fred Hoiberg and his Nebraska squad were four minutes from losing to Indiana when the coach – sweaty and unkempt – abruptly left the court and headed into the locker room. The players, media, and everyone present wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but the tension was palpable – Fred was clearly not well. Once Hoiberg learned it was not the deadly virus, the nerves were calmed, although not completely.

It was an unnecessary scare. One that could have exposed hundreds, if not thousands, of people to COVID-19.

Many universities have already taken preventative measures to attempt to help with containing the Coronavirus. That includes leaving their athletic programs out of harm’s way.

It’s only a matter of time before the NCAA comes to the same conclusion.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.