A Grip on Sports: As virus fears grow, the sporting world becomes more insular or shuts down

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Let’s be clear here. The coronavirus outbreak is serious. And it has to be taken seriously. Even in the world of sports.

•••••••

• Before we delve into the nuts and bolts of what happened yesterday in the world of sports – there were about four hours in the middle of the day in which the news broke fast and furious – we want to share our point of view.

The coronavirus hits people in my age range harder than most, so I’m a bit paranoid about it. I have a family member in the health-care industry, so I’m a bit more attuned into its threat to that system. There are people dying from the virus, people sick, people suffering, which tugs at our heartstrings. Finally, I understand sports are just a small part of our overall society, but they are a crucial part, emotionally, for many of us.

Put it all together and yesterday was a dark day. A day we may forget as events change over the next weeks and months, but dark still. And it may have been a defining day. The NBA shuts down. The NCAA decides to hold its tournament in near-empty arenas. College moves classes online, cancels events or limits spectators. Schools grapple with what to do and Seattle decides it has to shut down. Community events postponed or canceled. The same happens for youth sporting events, including a large basketball tournament and an upcoming volleyball one in Spokane.

UPDATE: Just after we posted this morning’s report, conferences around the nation began canceling their tournaments. Seems pretty certain the NCAA Tournament will follow. Check back with the S-R for more information.

What happens today? Who knows? But the next logical step is to tell everyone who can just to stay home, to limit social interaction, to hunker down. It has happened in other countries. It may happen here.

Against that backdrop, the world of sports doesn’t feel all that integral.

• All that being said, we are here to report and pass along what happened in that world. And a lot still did yesterday. Including something that hasn’t happened in more than a decade.

Yes, Washington State won a men’s basketball game at the Pac-12 Tournament. And the Cougars did it in a rout.

If you watched any of it, you may have marveled at CJ Elleby’s play. The sophomore scored 90 points … no, that’s not right. It only seemed that way. He had a third of that, but his 30 came from all over, including 18 of them coming from long-range.

But this one was won in the same manner the Cougars earned their last conference tournament win in 2009, with defense. Colorado was flummoxed much of the night, not breaking through consistently until WSU had built a 20-point lead.

Heck, in what seemed a tribute to the 2009 team, Washington State held Colorado to 25 points in the opening half.

By the time the Buffs figured out McKinley Wright should be their go-to guy, it was too late.

The Cougars play on, as long as the tournament continues today – and who knows if that will happen considering how much everything changed yesterday. We do know the game with Arizona State, if it is played, will be contested in a nearly empty T-Mobile Arena.

“We’ll have to bring the energy there,” Elleby told Theo Lawson. “We’ll have family and close friends. But the energy comes from within the locker room, and we’ll have to rely on each other for that.”

As Theo wrote this morning: “It’s something the Cougars have some practice doing, too, and not only though their preseason scrimmages. WSU’s average home attendance is the lowest in the Pac-12 and sits at just 3,165. While seven Pac-12 teams have brought in more than 100,000 total fans to games this season –topped by Arizona at 232,114 – the Cougars are at the bottom of the league.”

•••

Gonzaga: There was disappointment and resignation from the GU fans yesterday after the NCAA announced its tournaments would be held without fans. (Tom Clouse covered that story from Spokane yesterday.) That means the men, who are sure to be seeding into Spokane, and the women, who have a good chance of hosting, won’t be playing with what-would-have-been a distinct advantage. But it was the right decision, according to our John Blanchette. … John also spoke with athletic director Mike Roth about the changes wrought by the coronavirus outbreak. … The two Jims, Jim Meehan and Jim Allen, combined on a story with the Bulldogs’ reaction. … Jim Meehan also has his review of the win over Saint Mary’s. … BYU’s NCAA history is a bit checkered.

WSU: The win over Colorado was “a big moment” for Washington State. Theo explains how big in this story, which was also linked above. … He also has a notebook with news from Las Vegas as well as two other stories connected to the virus issue: The Cougars won’t have fans at spring sports and the CBI pulled the plug on its tournament, meaning WSU probably won’t have a postseason landing spot. They will play Arizona State tonight in an empty arena. … Theo also spent some time yesterday speaking with Larry Weir as part of the latest Press Box pod. … The loss was just a continuation of a late-season meltdown for Colorado. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Washington was really hot heading into the tournament and cold yesterday as the Huskies’ season ended against Arizona. Wildcat fans are upset at the decision to close the arena. … Utah made a boatload of 3-pointers, but Oregon State made the last, and most-important, one to win. … Did California deal a fatal blow to Stanford’s NCAA hopes? … USC wants to increase its chances, starting with Arizona today. …  So does UCLA. … Oregon has yet to play but the Ducks are ready. … In football news, Oregon State held its pro day yesterday. So did Colorado. … USC is starting a key spring practice stretch.

Idaho: The Vandal men saw their season end yesterday with a 75-69 loss to Southern Utah in the Big Sky Tournament’s first round. Ryan Collingwood is in Boise and has the game story. … Ryan also has coverage of the women’s semifinal win over Idaho State, moving the Vandals into Friday’s championship against Montana State. … Around the Big Sky, Sacramento State started fast and held off Weber State. … Idaho State won a postseason game for the first time since 2009, defeating Northern Arizona. … Montana can’t wait to start tournament play.

Whitworth: Swarthmore announced yesterday morning, even before the NCAA made it mandatory, the game Saturday would be played without spectators. Dan Thompson has more on the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 matchup.

Preps: The coronavirus outbreak has forced postponement of the S-R’s all-star basketball game originally scheduled for next Tuesday. Dave Nichols has that information. … We printed all the winter all-league teams from around the area as well as the photos of the All-GSL teams. … Dave put together a list of the State basketball all-tournament teams.  

Chiefs: The WHL will play its games in Western Washington without spectators, the league announced.

Mariners: There is little chance Major League Baseball, including the M’s, will open its season on anything resembling a normal way. Spring training continues – the M’s won a rain-shortened game yesterday – but players and fans are in limbo concerning what will happen ahead. … The Seattle starting pitchers have been doing well.

Seahawks: Free agents are being wooed and assistant coaches, including Steve Hutchinson, are being hired. All of that goes on despite the other news.

•••       

• The more you delve into what has happened in other countries with the novel coronavirus, the more you understand why public health officials are urging the suspension of events with large crowds. It feels prudent. It feels wise. And it may not be enough. Until later …