This will be a season of interruptions, sputters, cancelled games etc. Count on it! The NCAA is planning on it happening. That is precisely why the NCAA Div 1 council recently passed legislation allowing for players completing their last year of eligibility to be granted another year of eligibility. What will be interesting is how the different conferences normalize the Win-loss records of the teams in their conference when the teams may complete a different number of games because of Covid -19 interruptions?
Just a guess, but I imagine league standings would be based on winning percentage if there are indeed some cancellations. Looks like the Big-10 already has that problem to consider based on the Wisconsin football team having some positive tests leading to their scheduled game with Nebraska this weekend being called off. According to the league, neither team will get a forfeit win or loss. So maybe that will serve as an example to carry over to the basketball season.
I kinda liked normalizing using winning percentage as the indicator. It may be the best way to go. Winning percentage puts the emphasis on how effective your team was during the games you were allowed to play in the MAAC when teams are forced to play an uneven number of games because of Covid interruptions.
A positive case, with or without symptoms, requires 10 days of isolation since the date of the last positive test. And any close contacts, within 6 feet for 15 minutes over a 24-hour period, require 14 days of quarantine. Those are the guidelines. I doubt Fairfield or any MAAC school would circumvent them. Let’s hope no one gets infected.
This is why all the kids on the spring sports teams are having covid parties. The students view Covid as a total nothing and they do not want to be quarantined during their sports season.
I think you have to look at this season with the "be happy with whatever we get" perspective. Everyone needs to be flexible and see what can be done.
I hope they get some regular season games in and then - if the NCAA is putting on a tournament - the MAAC can put together a quick "bubble" tournament for the bid.
I kinda liked normalizing using winning percentage as the indicator. It may be the best way to go. Winning percentage puts the emphasis on how effective your team was during the games you were allowed to play in the MAAC when teams are forced to play an uneven number of games because of Covid interruptions.
Get ready for Marist to have a covid outbreak right before the Siena game
Seriously the problem with this is Fairfield might miss a game against number 10 Niagara potentially lowering their winning percentage, and marist could miss a game with #1 siena potentially raising theirs. So there is the potential for some inequity with this approach. I would hope in basketball, unlike football, that postponed games could be rescheduled.
I kinda liked normalizing using winning percentage as the indicator. It may be the best way to go. Winning percentage puts the emphasis on how effective your team was during the games you were allowed to play in the MAAC when teams are forced to play an uneven number of games because of Covid interruptions.
Get ready for Marist to have a covid outbreak right before the Siena game
Seriously the problem with this is Fairfield might miss a game against number 10 Niagara potentially lowering their winning percentage, and marist could miss a game with #1 siena potentially raising theirs. So there is the potential for some inequity with this approach. I would hope in basketball, unlike football, that postponed games could be rescheduled.
I don't think having a fair schedule is the main goal. It would be nice if it happens - but it's probably pretty low on the priority list. The world isn't going to end if Monmouth are declared regular season MAAC champions of 20-21 - despite having missed their games vs. Siena.
Get ready for Marist to have a covid outbreak right before the Siena game
Seriously the problem with this is Fairfield might miss a game against number 10 Niagara potentially lowering their winning percentage, and marist could miss a game with #1 siena potentially raising theirs. So there is the potential for some inequity with this approach. I would hope in basketball, unlike football, that postponed games could be rescheduled.
I don't think having a fair schedule is the main goal. It would be nice if it happens - but it's probably pretty low on the priority list. The world isn't going to end if Monmouth are declared regular season MAAC champions of 20-21 - despite having missed their games vs. Siena.
If there is a conference tournament I would agree completely. If for any reason the conference tourney is cancelled like last year I would hate to see someone win on a statistical anomaly. Imagine if Fairfied were 16-4 and Siena were 16-3 because they missed the Iona game? Siena would be maac regular season champs. That would be disappointing....
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2020 14:09:02 GMT -5 by reindeerfan
I don't think having a fair schedule is the main goal. It would be nice if it happens - but it's probably pretty low on the priority list. The world isn't going to end if Monmouth are declared regular season MAAC champions of 20-21 - despite having missed their games vs. Siena.
If there is a conference tournament I would agree completely. If for any reason the conference tourney is cancelled like last year I would hate to see someone win on a statistical anomaly. Imagine if Fairfied were 16-4 and Siena were 16-3 because they missed the Iona game? Siena would be maac regular season champs. That would be disappointing....
Yes. I'd agree on that.
I would hope a 3-day tournament (take the top 8 teams?) would be doable.
Post by dannynoonan on Oct 29, 2020 15:30:47 GMT -5
Personally, I'm willing to take my chances with the possibility of things not being fair for the bigger picture goal of having a season, assuming it can be done reasonably safely.
I don't think having a fair schedule is the main goal. It would be nice if it happens - but it's probably pretty low on the priority list. The world isn't going to end if Monmouth are declared regular season MAAC champions of 20-21 - despite having missed their games vs. Siena.
If there is a conference tournament I would agree completely. If for any reason the conference tourney is cancelled like last year I would hate to see someone win on a statistical anomaly. Imagine if Fairfied were 16-4 and Siena were 16-3 because they missed the Iona game? Siena would be maac regular season champs. That would be disappointing....
But OTOH if the Stags finished with a 16-4 record, even if they weren't declared league winners, I think I'd be thrilled for not only this year, but also for what might be in store for the future. In fact to be truthful, for this season only, I'd take that scenario without regret!
Post by nashvillestag on Oct 30, 2020 7:07:09 GMT -5
I think Jay mentioned during the event last night that the Stags will indeed be honoring the contract signed to play down at William and Mary in late December. (I say "I think," because at that very time I was kind of multi-tasking with something else going on). Can someone confirm if I heard that correctly? And I also believe he mentioned they are 'close' to getting one final schedule commitment. If those things are true the OOC is almost complete.
I think Jay mentioned during the event last night that the Stags will indeed be honoring the contract signed to play down at William and Mary in late December. (I say "I think," because at that very time I was kind of multi-tasking with something else going on). Can someone confirm if I heard that correctly? And I also believe he mentioned they are 'close' to getting one final schedule commitment. If those things are true the OOC is almost complete.
Post by jenningsbeach on Oct 30, 2020 10:21:06 GMT -5
A trip to Williamsburg seems like a foolish endeavor during a resurgent pandemic. And the Sacred Heart game will be played on Long Island? It's a 10-minute bus ride from Alumni Hall to the Pitt Center.
Selfishly, I prefer that the UMass and BC games get pushed into 2021-22 so I can attend them. But they are both better options than a road game at W&M. No road game should go beyond a 100-mile radius. The whole point is to stay out of hotel rooms and away from public transportation. Lots of local options: Hartford, Central, Fordham, LIU, St. Francis, Wagner, Army, NJIT, FDU, etc. Everyone needs games. No reason to overthink this.
Last Edit: Oct 30, 2020 10:50:40 GMT -5 by jenningsbeach
One thing that they touched on last night was the financial impact. Sure sounds like those guarantee games are a huge part of the financial calculations made by the entire athletic department.
It sure hurts the major programs not being able to fill 20,000 seat arenas 18 times a year, but it also trickles down to the mid and low majors who don't get to reap the $$$ of acting as the Christians being fed to the lions.