CBI canceled due to coronavirus, diminishing Washington State's chance of postseason berth
Theo Lawson | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
Unless Washington State can win four games in Las Vegas, the Cougars’ 2019-20 basketball season will presumably end this week at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament.
The College Basketball Invitational announced Wednesday it would be canceling this year’s postseason tournament amid “uncertainty about the coronavirus.”
After a home win over Washington on Feb. 9, Cougars coach Kyle Smith told reporters his team had received an invitation to the CBI, a third-tier postseason tournament that invites teams who don’t qualify for the NCAA or NIT.
“As colleges and universities are making difficult and complex health and risk management decisions about conducting sporting events, it became apparent to us that this was the most prudent course of action,” the CBI statement read.
WSU could still qualify for the postseason by claiming the Pac-12’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament this week in Las Vegas, though the Cougars are seeded No. 11 and aiming to win a single game at the conference tournament for the first time since 2009.
The Cougars (15-16) play Colorado (21-10) in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament tonight at 8:30 at T-Mobile Arena.
ARTICLES BY THEO LAWSON
CBI canceled due to coronavirus, diminishing Washington State's chance of postseason berth
Unless Washington State can win four games in Las Vegas, the Cougars’ 2019-20 basketball season will presumably end this week at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament.
Transcript: Pat Chun delivers update on state of Washington State athletics as school deals with coronavirus
One week removed from the NCAA’s decision to cancel its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, spring sports and indefinitely suspend other organized team activities, Washington State Athletics Director Pat Chun spoke with reporters on a Friday afternoon conference call to discuss how the changes have impacted student-athletes in Pullman, as well as the financial impact and what the cancellations mean for upcoming events such as spring football camp or the Pro Day that was scheduled for April 1.
Pac-12 Tournament cancelled due to coronavirus, ending Washington State basketball season
LAS VEGAS – Wednesday’s nightcap between No. 11 Washington State and No. 6 Colorado at T-Mobile Arena was the final game of the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, after the conference decided to cancel the remainder of the 2020 event due to concerns about the coronavirus illness.