College conferences canceling basketball tournaments

The Associated Press

5 years ago

Fans enter The Bankers Life Fieldhouse for a game at the Big Ten Conference basketball tourname ... — Fans enter The Bankers Life Fieldhouse for a game at the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 12, 2020. The Big 10 and other conferences are canceling their tournaments. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Several college basketball conference tournaments have been canceled moments before tipoff, putting the NCAA Tournament at risk.

The Big Ten, Big 12 and the SEC tournaments announced they were off over the coronavirus outbreak, and other conferences were expected to follow suit.

The ACC announced in a tweet that their tournament is canceled.

UPDATE: pic.twitter.com/UTlO4MTVxI

— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 12, 2020

The Big East conference canceled its tournament at Madison Square Garden during halftime of the quarterfinal game between St. John’s and Creighton universities. St. John’s was leading 38-35.

The men’s NCAA Tournament is one of the most popular events on the American sports calendar. March Madness draws hundreds of thousands of fans to arenas from coast to coast.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.