On Thursday, March 12, the NCAA announced that they were going to be cancelling March Madness, which is their Division I men’s basketball tournament, and every other winter and spring NCAA championship. This decision was made due to the rapid spreading of the COVID-19 virus. NCAA released a statement saying,
“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.”
The NCAA has held a Division I championship every single year since it was held first in 1939. The NCAA was not the only organization to halt proceedings. The NBA, NHL, MLB, & XFL along with many other sport leagues has postponed or suspended their seasons.
Before this decision was made, a few high profile universities said that their teams would not participate even if the tournament was being held. Included in this was five-time national champion Duke University and another high profile school, the University of Kansas.
Duke’s coach, Mike Krzyzewski, said he supported his schools decision, saying,
“The welfare of our student-athletes, and all students at Duke, is paramount, and this decision reflects that institutional priority.”
This cancellation affected many different schools and athletes in different ways, but possibly none more than the Dayton Flyers. The Flyers had a historic season, winning 20 in a row to close the regular season. After not making the tournament for the past two year, they bounced back and finished the year with a 29-2 record. Led by redshirt sophomore sensation, and eventual Naismith Trophy winner, Obi Toppin, they were projected to be a #1 seed in the national tournament. Flyers senior Trey Landers put on Twitter,
“I wish all of this was just a dream that I could wake up from… Wish I could play one more game with my brothers…”
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