What a wild day, guys.

I was so excited for conference tournament week around college basketball all day Thursday and Friday, and looking forward to Mizzou potentially making an improbable run. Now that just doesn’t even matter anymore right now.

Because on a more important note, the NCAA announced that the entire NCAA Tournament will be played without fans due to the coronavirus outbreak, president Mark Emmert released in a statement on Wednesday. Here’s the full statement concerning COVID-19.

Just like all conference tournaments this week - the remainder of this SEC Tournament will be played without fans, the league said in a statement last night. Here’s the full release from the conference:

And like many other universities, the University of Missouri has announced that they are suspending in-person classes until March 15th, the chancellor has announced, and all in-person classes will be held online through March 30. It is also very important to note that there are currently no known cases of COVID-19 on campus.

And here’s a statement released from Mizzou Athletics Director Jim Sterk:

That wasn’t all. The Utah Jazz-Oklahoma City Thunder game was postponed essentially right before tip-off. That’s because Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

The NBA immediately postponed their season because of it.

During Nebraska’s Big Ten Tournament game against Indiana, head coach Fred Hoiberg was sick on the bench and did not finish coaching the game.

I thought no fans at the NCAA Tournament was an overreaction. Not anymore. At this point, you have to wonder if conference tournaments and NCAA Tournaments are even actually going to be played.

So, does Missouri play against Texas A&M tomorrow? We’ve got a poll for you guys.

This is getting serious. As for now, just stay healthy and safe, people.

Onto the links.

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Yesterday at Rock M

• Get To Know Your New Coaching Staff: Marcus Johnson, writes Nate Edwards
• Film Room: Introducing Shawn Robinson, Part Two - The Arm, by Tim Bussen
• PODCAST: Spring Football has Sprung! by Nate Edwards and Brandon Kiley

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More Links:

(PowerMizzou)

• Read up on Gabe DeArmond’s latest mailbag (subscription needed)
• Mizzou will play SEC Tournament sans spectators, writes Mitchell Forde
• Spring practice rolls on as campus life comes to a half, writes Gabe DeArmond

(STLToday)

• NCAA will close doors to fans for national basketball tournaments, writes Dave Matter
• SEC basketball tourney will go on without fans, writes Dave Matter
• From Dave Matter: Will third time finally be a charm for Mizzou vs Texas A&M (if played)

(The Athletic - $$)

• “I’m a Missouri guy”: Why 2021 prospect Connor Tollison decided to stay in-state, writes Peter Baugh

(KC Star)

• Eyeing SEC hoops tourney opener, Mizzou players say they’re prepared for any scenario, writes Souichi Terada
• SEC barring fans from basketball tournament, regular season events, writes Souichi Terada

(Tweets)

• Here’s some good perspective from Cuonzo Martin on the coronavirus:

• Mizzou Softball lost 2-1 to Illinois to fall to 19-7 on the season. They’ll visit Auburn up next Sunday through Monday.

• Mizzou Baseball beat Northern Illinois 3-2 on a walk-off in 12 innings. That’s a seven-game winning streak for the Tigers, who improve to 11-5 on the season heading into the SEC opener this weekend at Alabama.

• Congrats to Maddie Huitt, Carlo Lopez, and Savana Trueb (all freshmen!) on earning NCAA Championship Berths in diving!

• Here’s what former Mizzou WR L’Damian Washington had to say on BattleHawks Twitter!

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