Earlier this week, the NCAA announced it is exploring plans to create an NCAA Tournament bubble in Indianapolis, which was already set to host the 2021 Final Four.
That would be in place of staging the Big Dance at 13 host locations scattered around the nation during the pandemic.
“We have learned so much from monitoring other successful sporting events in the last several months, and it became clear it’s not feasible to manage this complex championship in so many different states with the challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball. “However, we are developing a solid plan to present a safe, responsible and fantastic March Madness tournament unlike any other we’ve experienced.”
BYU coach Mark Pope welcomes the idea of playing the NCAA tournament in a bubble in a centralized location. Last year’s tournament was canceled due to the virus. The Cougars were set to return to the tournament for the first time since 2015 as a single-digit seed.
“I’m just grateful that people are trying every way possible to make the NCAA Tournament a safe reality. If it ends up being a bubble in Indianapolis like is being discussed, great,” Pope said Thursday. “If ends up that the best way to make it most likely to happen is some other alternative, great. Right now, we’re so eager just to have a chance to play that we’re less concerned with the logistics of it than being able to find a way to get on the court and do it safely.”
“If ends up that the best way to make it most likely to happen is some other alternative, great. Right now, we’re so eager just to have a chance to play that we’re less concerned with the logistics of it than being able to find a way to get on the court and do it safely.” — Mark Pope
From a financial standpoint, it’s crucial to successfully stage the NCAA Tournament because it has become a billion-dollar event. The NCAA can’t afford to scrap the tournament two years in a row.
Villanova coach Jay Wright called Indianapolis the “perfect site” to hold the NCAA Tournament.
But Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has some doubts.
“Logistically, I think it’s a challenge to get that many teams there (in Indianapolis), but I’m glad they’re looking at different things including — I would hope they always keep in mind if it did get bad — worse than what it is,” he said. “It’s already bad — then you could have it later. I’ve always been a proponent of that — starting the season later. Hopefully, we’ll find out a little bit more. I’m glad they’re looking into things. We need to have the tournament, no question.”
Pope’s coach when he played at Kentucky, Rick Pitino, has been vocal about wanting to delay the season.
The first-year Iona coach is proposing starting the season in late March or early April with conference games, followed by the NCAA Tournament in May.
Iona is currently not practicing due to the virus and it has seen its first four games canceled.