Atlantic 10 among conferences to cancel basketball tournaments

Dayton Flyers were scheduled to play Friday in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dayton’s Obi Toppin blocks a shot against Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament on Friday, March 15, 2019, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. David Jablonski/Staff

Dayton’s Obi Toppin blocks a shot against Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament on Friday, March 15, 2019, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. David Jablonski/Staff

The Atlantic 10 and Big Ten were two of multiple conferences to cancel its basketball tournament shortly before noon Thursday.

The Dayton Flyers were scheduled to play in the A-10 tournament Friday at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., while Ohio State was to play Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis against Purdue.

“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 conference said in a statement.

The Big 12, AAC, MAC and SEC also announced cancelations at around the same time.

In a press conference after the decision was announced, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said he did not anticipate the tournament being resumed.

He also said no one at the tournament had tested positive for the virus.

As for whether or not the NCAA Tournament will or should be played, Warren said athletics should be at the epicenter of the decision.

Warren also declined to name a team that would receive the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament if it does take place.

While Dayton was the outright champion of the A-10 regular season, the Big Ten title was shared by Michigan State, Wisconsin and Maryland.

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