ijohnb

March 11th, 2020 at 6:55 PM ^

I think we are all about to realize that seeing a lot of other people care about something is a big part of the reason why we care about it.  My guess is that those expecting big ratings for March Madness just on TV are going to be in for a surprise.  I just became a lot more interested in the Players Championship this weekend.  Not commenting on these decisions either way, but hoops with no fans will be a difficult watch.  I feel bad for Xavier and Teske, Winston too.  These guys have given everything for their schools and this is not an appropriate way for them to go out.

Jordan2323

March 11th, 2020 at 7:04 PM ^

That's where I'm at on this. When Michigan is playing I will probably still watch but I'm going to have a hard time watching an empty arena while some teams like Creighton and Baylor play. The different ebb and flow of the game while the different teams fans go crazy is what makes March Madness what it is during the games. When other teams fans in the bracket choose sides and cheer on the easier team for their team to beat. Its gonna lose all of that  

Jordan2323

March 11th, 2020 at 7:32 PM ^

Even in that one though, Kansas fans were probably cheering against one or the other at certain points, thinking it would make it easier on Kansas to play said team. Or when you get fans in the arena where they play different brackets in the same arena and you get Ohio area fans for example cheering against Michigan. Or games in Detroit where Michigan fans cheer against Ohio St. Refs call games according to crowds at points as well, that'll change too. Lots of little things that make it March Madness will be gone.

J.

March 11th, 2020 at 9:31 PM ^

Not really.  I was there, and the Kansas fans weren't -- they didn't really show up until toward the end of the Michigan/Oregon game, and they didn't really get that invested in the outcome.

It was really weird -- worse, even, than the Michigan / Montana game in Wichita (the one before Poole's shot vs. Houston -- I didn't go to the one last year).  And that one was a pretty bad atmosphere.

victors2000

March 12th, 2020 at 1:51 AM ^

I think it's appropriate, we need to curb the spread of Covid-19; perhaps 'appropriate' doesn't convey what you meant?

It's going to be a unique setting, different, unexpected. Nobody signed up for this, but it is fair; all teams will be subject to the decision. I'm really interested in how it's going to play out. We do play well on neutral sites. I think this is going to benefit us. 

ijohnb

March 11th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^

I think one of two things will happen.  They will realize they are being ridiculous and fans will be allowed in or they will cancel the tournament.  It won’t be played without a crowd.  

“Hey Xavier and Cassius, we don’t care enough about YOU to give up TV money, but we care enough about everybody else to watch you guys exchange virus sweat so we get to get our TV money.”  
 

Give me a break.  Not happening.  And these decisions could have irrevocable consequences for college basketball.  

HailHail47

March 11th, 2020 at 7:22 PM ^

The risk of one of the players having it is extremely small relative to the risk of one of thousands of fans... the risk of a fan spreading to others is a lot higher than a player. One fan could infect 10 others with just one cough. Touch a railing in a high traffic area and dozens could get it. 

Saludo a los v…

March 11th, 2020 at 9:21 PM ^

I find it ironic that one of the people who is spending the most time on the board decrying the hysteria surrounding the virus has become dare I say hysterical about its impact on sports.

Maybe step back from the keyboard and get some perspective. The reason to not have fans is because crowds make this virus way more likely to spread.  The atmosphere of the tournament will be worse, but it is reasonable to avoid needlessly infecting people with COVID-19. Take a moment to consider people in your family or friends that may have seriously compromised immune systems or health problems. Have some empathy for the very real concerns people have.

MichiganStan

March 11th, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^

Family can attend so that means Wagners mom will be there hopefully! Cant lose one of our Big Ten Tourney good luck charms due to stupid corona

sleeper

March 11th, 2020 at 8:05 PM ^

Will be interesting to see if the spread of the virus slows over the next two weeks how they react. I could see them slowly lifting these restrictions and the final four go on as normal , as well as sporting events at all levels. I think the not knowing how long they plan on having these policies in place is a big cause of frustration for many. Also makes one wonder what they are being told that the general public does not have knowledge of. 

blahblahblahh

March 11th, 2020 at 8:47 PM ^

This is looking like a 3 to 6 months+ situation with tens to hundreds of thousands dying in the United States. It's just getting started.

And I'm really not trying to stir up hysteria. Like a lot of folks here, I thought this was overblown, but listening to Nicholas Christakis on Sam Harris' podcast and Michael Osterholm's conversation with Joe Rogan changed my mind pretty quickly. 

There's no chance of this thing slowing down in the US over the next few weeks.

AtmoGuy

March 11th, 2020 at 9:31 PM ^

Didn't the Chinese basketball league just announce that they were resuming their season? So it must have slowed down in China after a couple of months. So why exactly is there "no chance of this thing slowing down in the US over the next few weeks"? And have "tens to hundreds of thousands" died in China, the country where the outbreak started and has a much higher population, vastly inferior healthcare, and much higher rates of smoking than the US? Last I checked there were just over 3 thousand deaths in China. Is that "tens to hundreds of thousands"? What, exactly, do you gain by being such a panicky fearmonger?

blahblahblahh

March 11th, 2020 at 10:10 PM ^

"What, exactly, do you gain by being such a panicky fearmonger?"

I'm just listening to the experts and not exaggerating their predictions at all. What else can I do? What reason do I have to be more optimistic? Please take an hour of your time to listen to either of the conversations with experts I posted above. Or both. They paint a pretty similar picture.

This is just beginning to spread, and we obviously aren't taking it as seriously as the Chinese government. I would be happy to revisit this conversation in a few weeks and see how things are going. I hope you're right about it clearing up so soon, but it seems near impossible.