In a bid to compete in a safe environment, the NCAA is set to announce its plans for the 2020-21 college basketball season amid the COVID-19.
Amidst the pandemic, the bubble plan worked with the NHL, the WNBA and MLS successfully. Since the bubble plan worked in this unprecedented landscape of sports, the NCAA might copy the blueprint.
The protocol witnessed massive testing leading to minimal to no positive COVID-19 test results.
Speaking ahead of the announcement, Mark Starsiak, vice president of sports at Intersport, based in Chicago, said the plan is viable from a basketball standpoint. Mark added that since that it is the case, the NCAA can follow the models.
Although the college football had started but had to be on hold due to the pandemic, so, players of 53 FBS schools are waiting for a piece of good pandemic news.
According to reports, the organiser is planning of coming up with a more unified plan for the college basketball season, with the hope of starting the season in late November/early December. This will be determined by a vote of the Division I council on Sept. 16.
There could also be a smooth return to court with a partnership between the Pac-12 and Quidel Corp being planned. The outfits plan to do daily, rapid COVID-19 tests on athletes to keep everyone safe.
With the COVID-19 still wrecking, havoc, the apparent answer to a clean sport is the bubbles, as it is the next to possible thing logistically.
Pundits believed that bubble basketball could work since the travel parties are smaller, despite college basketball already having plenty of multiple-team events. Part of those events includes holiday and conference tournaments leading to the NCAA Tournament. With effective safety measures of the pro leagues and suitable sites, the plan will be effective.
It was also gathered that the NCAA is working on it as they plan to file a trademark for the phrase “Battle in the Bubble. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont recently revealed preliminary talks that had been held for bubble basketball at the Mohegan Sun resort. He is in support of the idea.
It could be recalled that the NBA used Disney World. The college basketball might follow the NHL’s lead in selecting their bubble location.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
