Episode Details

In a remarkable announcements, the NCAA and Big 12 said no spectators would be allowed to attend its men’s and women’s tournament games this year because of the coronavirus. Wow. The Big 12 ban begins on Thursday. That’s the second day of the men’s event at Sprint Center and first day for the women at Municipal Auditorium

More than 650,000 fans attended last year’s men’s NCAA tournament, including 72,000 for the championship game. This year? When the event starts in Dayton, Ohio, next week for the opening rounds, only team personnel, some family members and building staff will be allowed in.

Kansas’ Bill Self coaches the best team in college basketball. He had heard about the NCAA’s decision only minutes before he met reporters at the Big 12 tournament the day before his first game. This topic took up nearly all of his time and we’re presenting it to you in its entirety on this bonus edition of SportsBeat KC, the KC Star’s daily sports podcast.

After, Self, you’ll hear from Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who explained why his conference touranments were limited spectators.

Story links:

NCAA, Big 12 bar fans from hoops tournaments because of growing coronavirus concerns

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/ncaa/article241100916.html

General public will be barred from Big 12 tournaments beginning Thursday

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/big-12-tournament/article241111516.html

Here’s something you’ve never seen before. Big 12, NCAA tourneys with no fans around

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article241100086.html

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