Breaking News: Remainder of Big Ten Tournament canceled

The Big Ten Conference has cancelled the remainder of its conference tournament, effective immediately, due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Other conferences, such as the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and others have also canceled their respective tournaments. The Ivy League previously canceled its tournament as well.

I don’t know what to make of this current COVID-19 pandemic. So many questions, such little answers. Not only in the beloved realm of sports, but also throughout every day life. I do know this is something we should all be taking very seriously. I’m struggling with this. Trust me, the last thing I want to see is a canceled NCAA Tournament. I would be heartbroken if Cassius Winston — given everything he’s gone through this year — doesn’t get a chance to lead Michigan State to a championship run. But the most important thing is the health of the players, coaches, staff members, fans, etc.

If the whole thing is canceled, there will be repercussions. Revenue will be lost for the NCAA and cable networks carrying the game, hourly employees who work the events will miss out on money they may very well need and sponsors — small businesses and large corporations alike — will suffer. But again, the health of everybody involved is what’s most important, not the money the event brings in. So the NCAA is tasked with making the right call for all involved. Maybe that means going with the current plan in place, or postponement for a couple weeks or a complete shut down of the event.

So far, here is what we know regarding college basketball and other leagues. As of right now, the NCAA Tournament will go on without fans in the stands. The NBA has suspended its season until further notice after several Utah Jazz players testing positive for the coronavirus. Other leagues such as the NHL, and the NFL (with free agency and the NFL Draft on the horizon — AKA a lot of face-to-face contact) are monitoring the situations. Meanwhile, the MLB is likely to soon suspend operations during the duration spring training, and possibly delay Opening Day.

Use this as an open thread if you need. Be courteous of others. Take precautions and be safe, all.