Terps React To Big Ten Basketball Tournament Cancellation

COLLEGE PARK, MD — As pro sports leagues including the NBA and MLS suspend play because of the new coronavirus, the Big Ten has canceled the remainder of its conference basketball tournament. The decision to halt play was made on Thursday morning. The Maryland Terrapins were the No. 3 seed in the tourney.

"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," conference officials said in a statement. "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."

The NCAA basketball tournament is to continue next week without fans in attendance.

The 23rd Big Ten men's basketball tournament was being played in Indianapolis this week. Play was to continue through Sunday.

"I understand and respect the conference's decision to cancel this year's Big Ten tournament," said Maryland coach Mark Turgeon in a statement. "The health and safety of our student-athletes and our entire program is paramount. This is an unprecedented situation that is much bigger than basketball. I will remain hopeful that a resolution will be found to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to complete their season."

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Ohio. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced the annual March Madness tournaments, for men and women, would be played behind closed doors, with spectators limited to essential staff and family of players.

"While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. "This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, more importantly, our student athletes."

As of Wednesday, Maryland had a total of 12 confirmed cases. An Anne Arundel County hospital patient with the virus is a visitor who will be counted as a Montana case.

Across Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, there are now a total of 22 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including nine cases in Virginia. As of midday Thursday, Washington, D.C. has 10 cases, Maryland has 12 and Virginia has 15 total cases.

The disease first emerged in Wuhan, China, late last year and has now infected more than 127,000 people around the globe and killed 4,718. There are more than 1,300 cases in the United States. The World Health Organization announced Wednesday it now considers the global outbreak a "pandemic." The pandemic declaration refers to the scope of the new coronavirus — but not its severity — and means it has become a "worldwide spread of a new disease."