SEC commissioner with update after cancelling men’s tournament, all sports
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey had another press conference Thursday after the decision was made to cancel the SEC Tournament and all competition for the league through March 30.
No more games, no more sports as SEC, others suspend seasons
The SEC has cancelled the basketball tournament in Nashville and just about every pro sports operation has suspended operations.
Yes, that includes Arkansas’ second-round matchup with South Carolina scheduled for Thursday night, baseball through March 30.
That probably includes spring football practice, too, which may not even happen this year with the coronavirus pandemic uncertainty.
As of this writing, the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships are still set to be held in Albuquerque.
With the Razorbacks’ 86-73 win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night (that may go down in the history books as the last league game of this season), Eric Musselman got 20 wins in his first season.
Even the most optimistic basketball folks I knew weren’t predicting that. It was a season where they over-achieved.
“There will be a lot of frustration for our fans,” SEC boss Greg Sankey said in a press conference Thursday afternoon. “This was the appropriate decision.”
Here’s the major points:
• Cancellation of SEC basketball tournament.
• All sports competition suspended through March 30.
• Gymnastics championships are cancelled.
Sankey admitted he didn’t have answers to all the questions right now.
“It may not be March 30,” Sankey said about resuming games. “It may be further.”
With Duke and Kansas announcing Thursday just after noon they will not be playing in the NCAA Tournament if it is held, you can probably assume others will follow their lead and there may not be any March Madness this year.
The biggest question for many fans is the status of spring football, which was scheduled to start Monday for the Hogs in Sam Pittman’s first official practices. Other SEC schools are smack in the middle of workouts.
“I don’t have a prescriptive list of what’s going to happen with spring football,” Sankey said.
All in-person recruiting has been suspended, which will primarily be of interest in football as this is one of the heavier periods for that.
We will update as more information becomes available.
Stackhouse and Commodores’ players recapping loss to Razorbacks at SEC tourney
Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse and players talking about 86-73 loss in first round of SEC Tournament on Wednesday night.
Musselman, Joe, Jones after Hogs advance at SEC Tournament on Wednesday
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman along with Isaiah Joe and Mason Jones with the media after downing Vanderbilt, 86-73, in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Nashville on Wednesday.
Hogs to restrict attendance until at least March 30 for home events
FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas will host home athletic competitions with restricted attendance from now until at least Monday, March 30.
This is as a precautionary measure with the worldwide concern over the China Coronavirus, which has affected multiple sports across the world. The NBA suspended the season on Wednesday evening.
Similar restrictions were announced for the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, other SEC Championship events and all on-campus regular season games hosted by an SEC institution through March 30.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey held a press conference in Nashville during the men’s basketball tournament addressing the situation Wednesday.
Only essential team personnel, limited family members and credentialed media members will be permitted into all scheduled athletic home events at the University of Arkansas and all other SEC campuses beginning Thursday.
“Our first priority is the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff as well as the well-being of our loyal fans who support them,” Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek said in a press release.
The following Razorback home events will be impacted this weekend:
Friday, March 13
Women’s Tennis vs. Vanderbilt
Gymnastics vs. Penn State
Softball vs. Georgia (SECN+)
Saturday, March 14
Soccer vs. Nebraska
Softball vs. Georgia (SECN)
Sunday, March 15
Women’s Tennis vs. Kentucky
Softball vs. Georgia (SECN)
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Van Horn picks up 700th win as Hogs sweep series over Antelopes
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn gave all the credit for his 700 wins to players and his assistant coaches over the years after hard-fought 10-9 win over Grand Canyon and previewed the SEC opener against Mississippi State.
Martin, Morris talking about Hogs’ high-scoring win over Grand Canyon
Arkansas shortstop Casey Martin (3-of-5, 4 RBI, HR) and pitcher Zack Morris (1 hit over 2.1 innings) with the media after getting a 10-9 win to sweep the midweek series with Grand Canyon.
Pallette after closing the door on Antelopes in Razorbacks’ win Wednesday
With two innings left, the Razorbacks had to walk a tightroom holding a one-run lead but reliever Peyton Pallette didn’t give up a hit, despite allowing a walk, in getting his first save in a 10-9 win.
