See how this week in sports would have unfolded in a world without the coronavirus
Sports fans have already missed out on several exciting events that have long been familiar traditions because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ripple effect from the response to the crisis late last week put a hold on professional leagues throughout the country and pretty much shut down college sports. The Southeastern Conference men’s basketball tournament was canceled in between games along with every other league tournament in the country, as was the girls’ high school Sweet 16 here in Kentucky.
But the sense of loss will likely be even more acute this week, which is typically among the most exciting of the year for sports fans. Instead of furiously filling out NCAA Tournament brackets or cheering on the hometown team in the boys’ Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena, it seems folks will be relegated to binge-watching their favorite TV shows or (gasp) cozying up with a good book.
Thoroughbred racing fans still have something to look forward to, even though Sunday brought the cancellation of the Sunland Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race in New Mexico scheduled for this coming Sunday. For now, one Kentucky Derby prep race is still on — the Louisiana Derby scheduled for Saturday.
But that’s small comfort in a world where sports fans would typically be developing strategies for ditching work in order to watch basketball. In a parallel universe somewhere, March Madness is about to kick into high gear.
At the risk of salting many a wound, here’s a look at some of the fun sports fans in this timeline were robbed of this week:
Monday
The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team would have learned its NCAA Tournament path Monday night when the 64-team field would have been revealed.
Monday would have also marked the season opener for many high school baseball and softball teams throughout Kentucky.
There were seven NBA games on the schedule for Monday night — 51 for the whole week.
Tuesday
The University of Kentucky softball team would have sought to continue its early-season dominance when it hosted Northern Kentucky at John Cropp Stadium. The baseball Wildcats, who were riding six-game winning streak during which they averaged more than 10 runs per game, would have also been in action at Indiana.
Tuesday would have also seen the curtain raised on the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament with a pair of First Four games being played in Dayton, Ohio.
Wednesday
Another pair of First Four games would have played out in Dayton on Wednesday, winnowing the field down to 64 teams. Also on Wednesday, the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships would have kicked off in Athens, Ga., and run through Saturday.
Arguably the most beloved sports event in Kentucky, the boys’ Sweet 16, would have tipped off in Rupp Arena with Madisonville facing Warren Central in Rupp Arena. That would have been followed by Elizabethtown vs. Ashland Blazer (which would have entered the tournament undefeated at 33-0), then Knox Central vs. Scott County and McCracken County vs. Clark County.
The NAIA Division I basketball tournaments would have also gotten underway, with the women competing in Billings, Mont., and the men playing in Kansas City, Mo. Those tournaments would have run through March 24.
Thursday
Day two of the boys’ Sweet 16 would have featured Fern Creek vs. Hazard, followed by Owensboro Catholic vs. Martin County. The night session would have opened with Male vs. Collins, followed by Covington Catholic vs. West Jessamine.
Also, the first full weekend of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament would have gotten underway, with the round of 64 playing out Thursday and Friday. On Saturday and Sunday the field would have been narrowed to the Sweet 16. Basketball fans would likely have been treated to several adrenaline-drenched upsets.
The NCAA Division I wrestling championships would have also gotten underway in Minneapolis and run through Saturday.
The PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship was scheduled for Friday through Sunday in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Friday
Along with another slew of men’s games, the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament would have opened on Friday.
Also, the quarterfinals of the Kentucky boys’ Sweet 16 would have made for an exciting day in Rupp Arena.
Friday would have also seen Wildcats and Gators tangle on the diamond. UK’s softball and baseball teams were scheduled to open three-game series against visiting Florida. It would have been the first SEC home series of the season for the baseball Cats.
The Division III men’s basketball tournament would have showcased its Elite Eight beginning Friday, while the first game of the Division III women’s Final Four would have also played out.
Saturday
The SEC gymnastics championships were scheduled in Duluth, Ga. Kentucky was ranked No. 13 in the country and coming off a victory over No. 23 Illinois when its season was brought to a sudden halt.
Saturday would have marked the semifinals of the Kentucky boys’ Sweet 16, round of 32 matchups in the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament and more first-round matchups in the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. The Division III women’s basketball champion would have been crowned Saturday, while the Division III men’s basketball semifinals would have been played.
Also, UK baseball and softball would have continued their series against Florida.
Sunday
UK softball and baseball would have wrapped their series against Florida, while the Kentucky boys’ Sweet 16 champion would have been crowned.
The second of two postponed NASCAR Cup races, so far, would have been run at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The remaining games in the round of 32 would have been played in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, cutting the field down to 16 teams, while the second round of the women’s tournament got underway.
