UPDATE 4:35 p.m.: The NCAA has cancelled the championships for all winter and spring sports, including the NCAA tournament for both men and women.
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 all remaining 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 ongoing decisions by other entities.
UPDATE 1:05 p.m.: In the middle of a game between Creighton and St. John’s, the Big East decided to end their competition and cancel the tournament at Madison Square Garden.
The Big East has canceled its tournament, effective immediately.
— The Athletic CBB (@TheAthleticCBB) March 12, 2020
St. John's and Creighton were at halftime.
NCAA basketball conference tournaments are starting to be cancelled as concerns grow over the COVID-19 outbreak. The American Athletic Conference, Big Ten, and SEC have all cancelled their postseason tournaments before tip-off on Thursday. The AAC was the first to reportedly cancel shortly before South Florida and Central Florida tipped at 1:00 p.m.
BREAKING: The AAC tournament is going to be cancelled, per a source. First domino to fall.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 12, 2020
That was quickly followed by the B1G making the move to suspend their event that had started in Indianapolis last night.
The Big Ten Tournament is cancelled.
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) March 12, 2020
And then the SEC.
ALERT: Based on the latest developments and the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Southeastern Conference today announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2020 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville.
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 12, 2020
And now the Big 12 has as well.
Big 12 also canceling its tourney.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2020
Add in the Western Athletic Conference.
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) March 12, 2020
And now the Pac-12 has cancelled as well.
Pac-12 statement on men's basketball tournament, Pac-12 sport competitions & Pac-12 championship events: pic.twitter.com/HjJvki3LOT
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) March 12, 2020
The ACC has also decided not to go forward.
UPDATE: pic.twitter.com/UTlO4MTVxI
— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 12, 2020
The Sun Belt has cancelled their tournament.
The Sun Belt has officially cancelled their tournament, a source told NBC Sports.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) March 12, 2020
The Big Sky is now done as well.
Source: The Big Sky has cancelled its conference tournament due to Coronavirus.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
The Big West is down as well:
Source: The Big West has cancelled its conference tournament due to Coronavirus.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020
The America East Conference cancelled their title game here.
A statement on the cancellation of the 2020 Women's and Men's Basketball Championship.
— America East (@AmericaEast) March 12, 2020
https://t.co/rYD3vXY2yS pic.twitter.com/OurXrYfbkA
The SWAC has pulled the plug as well:
SWAC tourney has been canceled, source told @Stadium.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2020
We’ll keep you abreast of any changes here or if any additional reasoning is given besides the obvious, but for now, these recent decisions are in-line with what we’re seeing across sports. MLS suspended its season this morning, the NHL is believed they’re going to as well, and soccer leagues across Europe have been either playing in front of empty seats or not at all.