Update: NCAA cancels all winter, spring championships

ASun announced that spring sports teams can practice, at the discretion of each individual school. They're trying to get a ruling from the NCAA as to whether it will be the off-season rule (8 hours) or in-season rule (20 hours). I kind of get this. Baseball players hoping to be drafted can stay sharp. Ditto golfers, although they play and practice so much on their own it doesn't matter much. Will any other conference do this?

 

1) Interesting that this is Liberty University's conference. Trying to become SEC Lite, I suppose.
2) I get players wanting to stay sharp for the draft. But I'm not sure how much scouts can trust intrasquad games.
In another 10 years, it will be interesting to see if the MLB draft -- if it is conducted in June as scheduled -- is any different from previous and subsequent editions in the bust rate of top picks. Are people more likely to be improperly rated if there is virtually no season?

 

Pac-12 just officially canceled all spring sports. It's over.

 

I don't think the ASun's release aged well. Looks like they're not going to let more than two kids get together for a game of catch.

 

Well, never mind. The NJCAA cancelled the basketball tournaments and spring sports this morning.

 

One of the schools in our area is loaded and had a really good chance to at least make it to the World Series, if not win a national championship. Talked to the coach this afternoon and he sounded devastated.

 

My alma mater Tulane was Top 20 baseball for the first time in years, it'll lose its core of best players for sure. Private schools with high tuition are going to be hurt most I think.

 

Vanderbilt continues to amaze me in baseball.

 

The SEC finally gave in and canceled the rest of its spring sports season. They initially said they'd re-assess on March 30, then extended it to April 15, and then today said screw it all. There had been talk they might try to play the SEC baseball and softball tournaments at least.
Also, spring football games and practices are all canceled.

SEC statement on remaining 2020 competition

 

With so many schools missing spring practice/games, I wonder if the NCAA will let football open practice earlier than normal and let baseball/softball have an extended fall practice season?

 

I saw one suggestion that the SEC should have a fall baseball tournament with all of the teams, and crown them 2020 conference champs. Not sure how that would work, exactly, but it might be a fun idea even if it would get lost in the football blizzard.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing a pre-season NCAA tournament with whatever the likely bracket would have been this week. At least the graduated players would feel like they played for something.