Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Wednesday 4 March 2020
An NCAA Tournament with empty arenas? It can't be ruled out

By The Associated Press 20. The men's Final Four will
Imagine an NCAA Tourna- be played the first week-
ment with no fans in the end in April at Mercedes-
arenas. Benz Stadium in Atlanta,
What normally would be and the women's Final Four
thought an impossibility isn't is set for Smoothie King
so far-fetched as the Unit- Center in New Orleans.
ed States and the rest of The NCAA wrestling tourna-
the world attempt to con- ment is March 19-21 at U.S.
tain the spread of the new Bank Stadium, the first time
coronavirus. the event has been held
An advocacy group for in a football stadium. The
college athletes has urged tournament is expected
the NCAA to consider hold- to break the attendance
ing its winter sports cham- record of 113,743, set in
pionships with no fans, and Cleveland in 2018.
the idea has not been dis- Conference basketball
missed out of hand. tournaments are set to
"If you can think of it, it's begin next week, and the
something that we've Big East, Pac-12, Moun-
gone through an analy- tain West, West Coast and
sis around," NCAA Chief Western Athletic confer-
Operating Officer Donald In this Wednesday, March 18, 2015 file photo, The NCAA logo is on the court as work continues at ences said in statements to
Remy told Bloomberg News The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. the AP that they are pro-
on Tuesday. "We've contin- Associated Press ceeding as if their tourna-
gency planned for all cir- ments will go on but moni-
cumstances." and epidemiology experts group will make recom- corporate sponsorships toring the situation.
The NCAA declined further and NCAA schools to ad- mendations on competi- and ticket sales. The WAC noted that if its
comment to The Associ- dress the virus, also known tion based on evolving Total attendance for the tournament is not complet-
ated Press on the possibil- as COVID-19. NCAA Chief medical protocols estab- 2019 tournament was ed, the tournament's No. 1
ity of no fans in the stands. Medical Officer Dr. Brian lished by the Centers for 688,753, an average of seed will advance to the
Presumably, the games still Hainline will lead the group. Disease Control, the Na- 19,132 per game. The Final NCAA Tournament as the
would be televised. "The NCAA is committed to tional Institutes of Health Four at U.S. Bank Stadium league's automatic quali-
The virus has sickened more conducting its champion- and state and local author- in Minneapolis drew 72,711 fier.
than 92,000 people and ships and events in a safe ities. for the semifinals and Sporting events across the
killed 3,100 worldwide, the and responsible manner," "We are in daily contact 72,062 for the champion- globe have been can-
vast majority of them in Chi- Remy said in a statement. with the CDC and are ad- ship game. celed or contested with no
na. Nine people have died "Today we are planning to vising leadership on the As- Attendance for the 2019 spectators allowed in stadi-
in the U.S., all in Washing- conduct our champion- sociation's response to this women's basketball tourna- ums or arenas.
ton state. Most cases have ships as planned; howev- outbreak," he said. ment was 274,873, an aver- Ramogi Huma, executive
been mild. er, we are evaluating the The NCAA generates near- age of 6,545 per game. director of the National
Also Tuesday, the NCAA COVID-19 situation daily ly $1 billion a year, most of The men's tournament is College Players Associa-
announced it has estab- and will make decisions ac- it coming from the men's scheduled to open March tion, urged the NCAA and
lished an advisory panel cordingly." basketball tournament 17 and the women's tour- the schools to take steps to
of medical, public health Hainline said the advisory through media rights fees, nament begins on March protect athletes.q

Avs edge Red Wings 2-1 for 7th

straight; 9 in row on road

By The Associated Press dropped to 3-18-2 in its last apiece.
DETROIT (AP) — Gabriel 23 games. Edmonton is second in the
Landeskog withstood a OILERS 8, PREDATORS 3 Pacific Division and pulled
crunching hit while making NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — within two points of first-
a pass that sprung Logan Leon Draisaitl had the first place Vegas with a game
O'Connor for a breakaway four-goal game of his ca- in hand.
goal in the second period, reer and added an assist as Edmonton broke open a
and the Colorado Ava- Edmonton beat Nashville tie game by scoring three
lanche beat the Detroit to sweep the season series. of five goals in the third in a
Red Wings 2-1 on Monday Connor McDavid scored span of 2:21. Colorado Avalanche right wing Joonas Donskoi (72) tries to re-
direct the puck to Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Ber-
night for their season-best the go-ahead goal in the Draisaitl, the NHL's scoring nier (45) as Alex Biega (3) defends in the first period of an NHL
seventh straight victory. third period and had four leader, got his hat trick at hockey game Monday, March 2, 2020, in Detroit.
Vladislav Namestnikov also assists. Kailer Yamamoto 8:28. Then he chased Pe- Associated Press
scored for the Avalanche, and Josh Archibald each kka Rinne from the goalie's
who extended a franchise had a goal and an as- first start since Feb. 21 with goals in a game. in the second wild-card
record with their ninth con- sist, and Zack Kassian also his 43rd goal of the season Roman Josi and Calle spot in the Western Confer-
secutive road win. Michael scored as Edmonton won at 9:55. Jarnkrok scored 14 seconds ence thanks to two games
Hutchinson made 17 saves. its second straight. Ryan It was the first time Rinne, apart, and Nick Bonino in hand on Winnipeg and
Anthony Mantha had the Nugent-Hopkins and Dar- the 2018 Vezina Trophy also had a goal for Nash- Arizona, with all three at 72
only goal for Detroit, which nell Nurse had three assists winner, had allowed eight ville. The Predators remain points.q