Given the success the NBA has had with their bubble setup, will college basketball look at doing something similar?
According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, several power conferences have had preliminary discussions about playing games this season in a “bubble” setting.
A college basketball bubble setup would be a difficult task to approve with collegiate players, who aren’t compensated for playing their sport.
Rothstein added that the only way this would work for student-athletes is if they’re taking all coursework online.
During a recent discussion Go Big Blue Country had with a Kentucky basketball parent; they mentioned the idea of each conference having their bubble setup.
While it would seem ideal during the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m just not sure how much traction a “collegiate bubble” will gain. That said, it’s something to watch as the NCAA makes decisions in the coming weeks and months.
In an interview last week with NCAA.com’s Andy Katz, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt admitted there is “uncertainty” with COVID-19 but that the college basketball season will be played if basketball is being safely played elsewhere.
“As long as basketball is being played safely anywhere in the world this season, we’ll be playing NCAA college basketball as well, both regular season and certainly the tournament in 2021,” said Gavitt. “We’ve got all sorts of plans and alternatives that we’re looking at in order to be able to do that in a safe and responsible way. But a high level of confidence that there’s going to be, while different, a great experience playing college basketball again for those guys that want to come back to school, finish their education, and have a great college basketball experience.”
