WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
3,477 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Indiana on Monday, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. There were 142 newly reported deaths. Locally, Monroe County saw 37 new confirmed cases yesterday, while Lawrence County reported 44. Brown County reported no new cases, but 1 new COVID-19 death.
The National Collegiate Athletics Association, or NCAA, announced Monday that this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be taking place exclusively in Indiana. In most years, rounds of the NCAA tournament, which famously runs throughout the month of March, are hosted by many different venues in many different states. This year, teams that qualify for the NCAA tournament will play in one of six locations in Indiana for each round of the event. Bloomington’s very own Assembly Hall will be one of six locations hosting NCAA tournament matches.
The idea is that, by hosting in one central area, travel will be kept to a minimum. This will hopefully keep players and staff safe, as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues. Last fall, the National Basketball Association, or NBA, made similar moves to protect the NBA playoffs. By keeping the playoff teams in one location, in Orlando, Florida, and limiting contact only between players inside the figurative bubble, the NBA was able to finish their playoffs without a single positive case of COVID-19. The proposed NCAA tournament decision is not exactly a bubble; according to NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, the families of players will be allowed to attend events. There has also been no official call on whether or not fans will be allowed to attend.
