College basketball was one of the first sports effected by the COVID-19 pandemic last spring as postseason tournaments were forced to cancel to protect student athletes from COVID-19.
The NCAA Division I Council approved moving the start of the 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball season to Nov. 25. Exhibition games and closed scrimmages will not be allowed before that start date.
The decision to move the start date back from Nov. 10 was intended to create a more controlled and less populated campus environment to decrease the risk of COVID-19, since at least three-quarters of Division I schools will have finished their fall terms or moved instruction and exams online. Schedules for regular season games will be shortened by four games since the season is set to start 15 days later than originally scheduled.
Men’s basketball can schedule 24 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to three games, 25 regular-season games with one multiple-team event that include up to two games or 25 regular-season games if a team doesn’t decide to participate in a multiple-team event.
For women’s basketball, teams can schedule 23 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes four games or they can schedule 25 regular-season games if they decide not to participate in a multiple-team event.
Programs will meet sport sponsorship requirements and be considered for NCAA championship selection if they play 13 games, but for NCAA championship consideration, all 13 games must be played against Division I opponents. The Division I Men’s Basketball and Division I Women’s Basketball Committees recommended that teams play a minimum of four non-conference games.
“The new season start date near the Thanksgiving holiday provides the optimal opportunity to successfully launch the basketball season,” Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, said. “It is a grand compromise of sorts and a unified approach that focuses on the health and safety of student-athletes competing towards the 2021 Division I Basketball Championships.”
Preseason practice is approved to start on Oct. 14, but programs will have 42 days to complete a maximum of 30 practices before the season begins. Players are able to work out up to 20 hours per week, four hours per day and are required to take one day off per week.
“It’s a little bit different just because we aren’t allowed to really do a lot of contact right now,” Scott Blakney, senior forward for University of Idaho men’s basketball , said. “We’re not doing contact right now because if somebody tests positive then our whole team will be out versus if we stay distant and do individual type drills. It’s been different for sure because we haven’t been able to play yet.”
With the new season being approved, the NCAA has adopted a COVID-19 testing protocol as well. Student-athletes, coaches and officials are urged to complete three weekly tests on non-consecutive days leading up to the start of the season.
“We’re trying to do what’s best and most safe for everybody involved, and so we know that the NCAA is going to do what they think is best,” Zac Claus, UI men’s basketball head coach, said. “I’m sure they’re basing a lot of what they’re doing moving forward off of what the CDC is recommending as well. So I know it’s in our best interest to adhere to these guidelines.”
UI men’s basketball is preparing for the 2020-21 season after falling out of the first round of the 2020 Big Sky Men’s Basketball Championships. With a different schedule and new testing protocols, Claus is preparing his team and addressing player safety concerns going into the season.
“You’re always worried about it just because of how many people are impacted both through sickness and unfortunate deaths,” Claus said. “But for us, I know that we’re taking all the precautionary actions that we possibly can. Our Director of Sports Medicine Chris Walsh has been amazing in that regard in terms of what he’s done from a leadership standpoint. So I know that we’re doing everything we can to keep our coaches, administrators and most importantly our student-athletes healthy.”
As the season draws closer, Claus and his guys are ready to be back on the court.
“Our guys are itching to be around one another, to get back on the court and get back to competing,” Claus said. “Our guys want to be out there but we understand that we have guidelines we have to stay within. We’re being smart in terms of how big of a group we’re working out with when we can and making sure we’re doing stuff as healthy and as safely as we can.”
Blakney has not played five on five basketball in five months but it excited to get back to competition.
“I’ve been itching to compete since COVID started,” Blakney said. “We’ve been trying to play a couple games here and there early on but I haven’t played in five months. I’m excited to play five on five again, especially with the new guys and starting to gel with them throughout play instead of just working out.”
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @arminmesinovic.