NCAA Basketball Chief Gavitt Issues Statement on Preparations for 2020-21 Season
August 18, 2020 09:33 AM | Men's Basketball, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt issued a statement Monday on the continuing preparations for a 2020-21 season.
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He indicated contingencies for a Nov. 10 start date are now being considered as a result of the COVID-19 virus.
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"As we prepare for the 2020-21 college basketball season, we have exercised patience and discipline in monitoring the effects of COVD-19 and making decisions regarding the season," he said. "We have learned a great deal over the course of the summer, and with health and safety being our priority, we have developed and studied contingency plans for alternatives to the scheduled No. 10 start date."
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The NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees will collaborate on finalizing recommendations for the start of the college basketball season, according to Gavitt.
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"By mid-September, we will provide direction about whether the season and practice start on time or a short-term delay is necessitated by the ongoing pandemic," Gavitt said.
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Gavitt conceded that mid-September is likely only the first milestone in a series of important decisions that must be made in order to conduct a regular college basketball season and postseason championship.
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The NCAA canceled play right before the start of last spring's Power 5 conference postseason tournaments, resulting in a loss of $375 million in revenue from the NCAA Tournament.
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The NCAA intended to distribute approximately $600 million to more than 1,200 schools in all divisions but was only able to distribute about $225 million of that.
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The 2020-21 season is slated to tip off on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Chicago with the State Farm Champions Classic.
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The doubleheader event is featuring Duke-Michigan State and Kansas-Kentucky to begin the season.
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West Virginia is also tentatively scheduled to begin its season on Nov. 10 in Morgantown against Fairleigh Dickinson. The annual Backyard Brawl is to occur three days later at the Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 13.
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The West Virginia University women have not yet revealed the non-conference portion of its schedule.
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All of this, of course, is still up in the air.
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"We recognize that we are living and operating in an uncertain time," Gavitt said. "While circumstances may warrant flexibility resulting in a different and perhaps imperfect season, the ultimate goal is to safely provide student-athletes and teams with a great college basketball experience."
Â
Stay tuned.Â
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He indicated contingencies for a Nov. 10 start date are now being considered as a result of the COVID-19 virus.
Â
"As we prepare for the 2020-21 college basketball season, we have exercised patience and discipline in monitoring the effects of COVD-19 and making decisions regarding the season," he said. "We have learned a great deal over the course of the summer, and with health and safety being our priority, we have developed and studied contingency plans for alternatives to the scheduled No. 10 start date."
Â
The NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees will collaborate on finalizing recommendations for the start of the college basketball season, according to Gavitt.Â
"By mid-September, we will provide direction about whether the season and practice start on time or a short-term delay is necessitated by the ongoing pandemic," Gavitt said.
Â
Gavitt conceded that mid-September is likely only the first milestone in a series of important decisions that must be made in order to conduct a regular college basketball season and postseason championship.
Â
The NCAA canceled play right before the start of last spring's Power 5 conference postseason tournaments, resulting in a loss of $375 million in revenue from the NCAA Tournament.
Â
The NCAA intended to distribute approximately $600 million to more than 1,200 schools in all divisions but was only able to distribute about $225 million of that.
Â
The 2020-21 season is slated to tip off on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Chicago with the State Farm Champions Classic.
Â
The doubleheader event is featuring Duke-Michigan State and Kansas-Kentucky to begin the season.
Â
West Virginia is also tentatively scheduled to begin its season on Nov. 10 in Morgantown against Fairleigh Dickinson. The annual Backyard Brawl is to occur three days later at the Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 13.
Â
The West Virginia University women have not yet revealed the non-conference portion of its schedule.
Â
All of this, of course, is still up in the air.
Â
"We recognize that we are living and operating in an uncertain time," Gavitt said. "While circumstances may warrant flexibility resulting in a different and perhaps imperfect season, the ultimate goal is to safely provide student-athletes and teams with a great college basketball experience."
Â
Stay tuned.Â
Â
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