NCAA Announces They Won’t Release Brackets This Season After Tournaments Canceled

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NCAA announced that brackets for its annual men’s and women’s basketball tournament won’t be released for 2020 after the tourneys were canceled on Thursday, March 12.

NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt announced the decision to not reveal brackets on Sunday, March 15.

“Anything less than a credible process is inconsistent with the tradition of the NCAA basketball championships. Brackets based on hypotheticals can’t substitute for a complete selection, seeding and bracketing process,” wrote Gavitt in a statement. “There will always be an asterisk next to the 2020 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships regardless if brackets are released. There is not an authentic way to produce tournament fields and brackets at this point without speculating and that isn’t fair to the teams that would be positively or negatively impacted by manufacturing March Madness.”

NCAA SVP Dan Gavitt on not releasing a 2020 NCAA Tournament bracket. #MarchMadness

Full statement:
👉 https://t.co/xiJAFZrY8v pic.twitter.com/nrGHDBxzGP

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 15, 2020

The Selection Show to unveil brackets was originally scheduled for the afternoon of March 15.

NCAA Tournaments Canceled

Due to concerns of coronavirus, the NCAA canceled its annual basketball tournaments on Thursday, March 12.

Prior to canceling the tournaments, the NCAA announced that they were going to proceed with the Tournament without fans in attendance.

The NCAA released a statement on the cancellation of the tournament.

“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” the statement read.

“We all feel that sadness and empathize with the players… We’re heartbroken – the committee is heartbroken.”@NCAA SVP of Basketball Dan Gavitt walks @TheAndyKatz through the intense & unprecedented decision to cancel the NCAA Tournament, including all contingencies. pic.twitter.com/jEtPs5avKx

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 14, 2020

Utah State and BYU were expected to participate in the tournament.

On March 12, nearly every conference basketball tournament was canceled due to concerns with coronavirus. The NBA, NHL, MLS, and MLB all suspended play as well.

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