NCAA Basketball: Will students be in attendance for 2020-21 season?

NCAA Basketball is several months away from starting up again. But will there be fans watching from inside?

The Covid-19 crisis has derailed the sports world over the last few months. although the numbers may be going down we are a long way from being out of the woods. The biggest question for fans is, when will sports return, particularly for NCAA Basketball?

I think most professional sports will return within 4-6 weeks as they are a full-time endeavor for the players who are employees of the governing body. However, for NCAA sanctioned sports and events the story appears to be playing out in a little bit of a different fashion.

Recently the CDC and Dr. Fauci created a very “bleak” picture during picture of the future of the Covid virus. The same site quotes Fauci saying “If we do not respond (to covid) in an adequate way when the fall comes, given that it is without a doubt that there will be infections that will be in the community, then we run the risk of having a resurgence,”

Unlike professional sports college athletes do not depend on the sport to make a living. With that being said, there is an important message that Richard Redfield the director of the CDC has a message that is important to understand before any decisions are made.

Redfield said “We are not out of the woods yet.” However, there is some optimism as the numbers continue to turn a curve in certain parts of the nation. However, colleges across the nation are announcing either heavy social distancing protocols or virtual classes to begin the fall semester.

You physically can not social distance with 500 students congregating in one set of bleachers to watch hoops. Schools are going to have to restrict many of the areas of large gatherings; this will certainly include sports gatherings. With all of this being said it just does not seemkely that we will see fans in our arenas.

Despite the pandemic we are dedicated to bringing you the latest news, stay tuned!