LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The ACC, SEC and Big Ten conferences canceled their men's basketball tournaments with concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
The news came in separate statements Thursday morning:
"The Big Ten Conference announced today that it will be canceling the remainder of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, effective immediately," the statement read. "The Big Ten Conference will use this time to work with the appropriate medical experts and institutional leadership to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic."
"The main priority of the Big Ten Conference continues to be the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fans and media as we continue to monitor all developing and relevant information on the COVID-19 virus."
UPDATE: pic.twitter.com/UTlO4MTVxI
— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 12, 2020
“This is unchartered territory and the health and safety of our student-athletes and institutions remains our top priority," ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. "This decision is aimed to protect from the further spread of COVID-19.”
The ACC went a step further Thursday to suspend all sports, including competitions, practicing and recruiting, indefinitely.
“We are all experiencing an unprecedented time and as an athletic department, we are doing what we can to help mitigate the spread of this virus,” Vince Tyra, U of L Vice-President/Director of Athletics, said in a news release. “I know our student-athletes will be disappointed about missing the competition, but their health and safety and that of our coaches, staff and fans is foremost in these decisions. We will continue to have regular communication with our university and ACC leadership, as well as guidance on a national level from the NCAA, as this continues to evolve.”
The SEC issued the following statement on Twitter when it canceled its tournament:
"ALERT: Based on the latest developments and the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Southeastern Conference today announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2020 Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville."
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