We all know the mass and fast impact the Coronavirus has had on the nation and the world. It has now entered the sports world. Several countries have stopped playing games in front of fans, and all the major sports in the United States are now stopping locker room access for reporters. Now the future of March Madness is in jeopardy after this Ivy League announcement today.
I am not a doctor. I’m a sports fan and analyst. This is unfair on every level. This ruins the entire point of March Madness and conference tournaments. Every team in the Ivy League, including teams that were right on the heels of Yale such as Harvard and Princeton, see their seasons end through no fault of their own. Think of the seniors. Instead of being able to give it all in a winner-takes-all tournament, their careers are over. But don’t take my word for it. Take the word of Harvard leading scorer and senior Bryce Aiken.
This is great insight from Aiken and my heart breaks for him and every other team robbed of a chance to play for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. My biggest takeaway was this. There are better solutions. Sure, the Coronavirus is serious and I’m fine with the Ivy League’s concerns. However, it could have been handled differently. They could have played in an empty gym, for one. And furthermore, if the Ivy League even sends a representative at all, that just proves all this is eyewash. Trying to look good from a PR standpoint and making it seem like they care about public safety. The reality is if they are so concerned about the Coronavirus, no Ivy League team to be sent to the Big Dance.
The Ivy League is supposed to be the smartest of the smart. But I’m starting to question it. First, you have Harvard saying that all students have to clear the campus within five days, which is absolutely ridiculous and impossible. Now you have both men’s and women’s basketball tournaments being canceled, unfairly awarding two automatic bids. This is not the kind of March Madness we want, folks. Be better, Ivy League.