As NCAA bans fans, SEC tourney goes on. Here’s what they’re saying in Nashville.
Understandable, if regrettable.
That was the reaction to Wednesday’s announcement that fans will be prohibited from attending NCAA Tournament games because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“Sometimes we get inconvenienced from what we want to do because decisions are made for what’s right,” South Carolina Coach Frank Martin said. “Everything should be based on what’s in the best interest of everybody’s welfare.”
UK Coach John Calipari would comment on the decision at his previously scheduled Thursday’s news conference here, spokesman Eric Lindsey said.
Aside from the absence of seemingly ever-present UK fans, Kentucky planned to play in the NCAA Tournament.
“We plan to play in all upcoming competitions home and away,” Director of Strategic Communications Guy Ramsey said. That applied to all of UK’s athletic teams, he said.
The SEC released a statement that tentatively said the league tournament would continue with fans attending games in Bridgestone Arena.
Wednesday’s first-round games “will continue as regularly scheduled,” the statement said, before Georgia and Ole Miss were to tip off. “We are evaluating plans for the remainder of the tournament.”
Speaking at a news conference, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear advised the SEC to not allow fans to attend the league tournament.
Before the NCAA made its announcement, Texas A&M Coach Buzz Williams asked a pointed question.
“I don’t want anybody to get sick,” he said. “I don’t want anybody to die.”
If fans were not allowed to attend NCAA Tournament games, “then I’d ask, if we’re playing and no fans are here, does that mean we don’t care if we die? Because can’t we get (coronavirus) amongst one another?”
Williams said he agreed that fans are so rabid, they would risk injury and illness to attend games. Therefore, fans need to be protected from themselves, he said.
“Does that mean my wife is a fan?” Williams said. “So, in other words, she can’t come? My kids can’t come?
“Or is it like immediate family only?”
Obviously, the absence of fans will dramatically alter game atmospheres.
“It’s definitely going to feel pretty weird,” South Carolina guard AJ Lawson said.
Teammate Jermaine Cousinard added, “That’s kind of crazy. I think they’re doing it for everybody’s safety.”
Former Mississippi State Coach Richard Williams, a commentator on radio broadcasts of some SEC Tournament games, said the absence of fans will make a significant difference.
“Fans in basketball are more important than in any other sport,” he said. “Because they’re so close to the floor. The home crowd, if you get a dunk or a steal, all of a sudden players move a little quicker and jump a little higher.”
Martin agreed. “Players don’t like running out to empty arenas,” the South Carolina coach said. “It’s a deflating thing.”
Anticipating the possibility of fans being prohibited from attending the SEC Tournament, Martin recalled his first season as South Carolina coach. The Gamecocks played Mississippi State in an SEC Tournament game between the 12th- and 13-seeded teams.
“The Big Blue Nation had not arrived yet,” he said. “There were maybe 37 people watching that game.
“Now, everybody else in the league is going to find out how we felt that first year.”
Martin added that something more important than game atmosphere factored in the NCAA’s decision.
“They’re not making decisions based on social media popularity,” the South Carolina coach said. “They’re not making decisions based on gossip. They’re not making decisions based on the 24-hour news cycle ….
“It is what it is. It’s unfortunate. But, in a situation like this, if we’re ever going to make a mistake, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
SEC Tournament
When: Wednesday through Sunday
Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
Kentucky’s first game: 1 p.m. EDT Friday vs. Tennessee or Alabama (ESPN)
SEC Tournament schedule
Wednesday
Georgia vs. Ole Miss (n)
Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas (n)
Thursday
1 p.m.: Alabama vs. Tennessee (SEC)
3 p.m.: Florida vs. Georgia-Ole Miss winner (SEC)
7 p.m.: Missouri vs. Texas A&M (SEC)
9 p.m.: South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt-Arkansas winner (SEC)
Friday
1 p.m.: Kentucky vs. Tennessee-Alabama winner (SEC)
3 p.m.: Mississippi State vs. Georgia, Florida or Ole Miss (SEC)
7 p.m.: Auburn vs. Missouri-Texas A&M winner (SEC)
9 p.m.: LSU vs. South Carolina, Vanderbilt or Arkansas (SEC)
Saturday
1 and 3 p.m.: Semifinals (ESPN)
Sunday
1 p.m.: Championship game (ESPN)
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 6:57 PM.
