The 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is back on, but the shadow of the COVID-19 epidemic still hangs with March Madness.
Four teams had to cancel games during conference tournament week due to coronovirus issues within the team.
Virginia is the No. 3 seed in SN’s latest “Field of 68”, the latest team to impress. The Cavaliers will not play in Friday’s ACC semi-final against Georgia Tech due to a positive test on the team.
More: March Madness Automatic Bid Tracker
This throws some uncertainty into Virginia’s NCAA tournament prospects, knowing the protocol of all teams coming to Indianapolis for the NCAA tournament.
Sporting News looks at schools that have been affected during Conference Tournament Week until March Madness:
8 March
FIU-MTSU Canceled
Florida International canceled it Conference-USA Tournament Play-In Game With Middle Tennessee State due to COVID-19 issues within the program.
The Panthers finished the season with a 9–17 record. The Blue Raiders lost No. 3 seed North Texas to the 76-56 on March 10. This cancellation had little impact on the tournament.
March 11
Duke’s season ends tournament streak
The ACC announced that the quarter-final match between Duke and Florida State was canceled due to a COVID issue within the Blue Devils program.
Duke improved its record to 13-11 over the last two days against Boston College and Louisville. Uncontested play and positive COVID-19 testing, however, ended the Blue Devils’ run of 24 straight tournament appearances from 1996 to 2019.
MORE: Duke’s Tasty Season Ends
Coach K: “We haven’t asked more than any team in our history, and they deserve huge credit for handling everything like the excellent young men that they are.” pic.twitter.com/R69HIUyQuI
– Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 11, 2021
MEAC top seed NC A & T cancell season
Top seeded North Carolina A&T was forced to end its season in the MEAC tournament Due to COVID-19 issues on the team. The Aggies were scheduled to play in the semifinals of the conference on Thursday.
Instead, Norfolk will advance to the state MEAC championship game, where it will face the winner of Coppin State and Morgan State at 1 pm on Saturday afternoon. North Carolina A&T concluded the season with a record of 11–10.
March 12
Virginia-Georgia Tech Canceled
The ACC tournament had its second cancellation in as many days with the Virginia-Georgia Tech game scheduled at 6:30 pm at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Cavaliers won the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and are technically the defending national champions.
The Cavaliers became the first true test for the NCAA tournament selection committee. NCAA Protocol for the tournament Determine that “all Tier 1 travel party participants must undergo and document seven consecutive negative COVID-19 tests before arriving in Indianapolis.” This possibility means the Cavaliers will have to play their first-round game on Saturday. Is in the NCAA Contingency plan in place If the team does not participate in the first round.
How will the NCAA tournament committee handle the Cavaliers? The selection is an interesting question ahead of Sunday.
Georgia Tech advances the ACC championship game, where it will face the winner of North Carolina and Florida State. The Yellow Jackets are a No. 10 seed in the latest field of 68.
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