Big East Tournament to "Continue As Planned"

Big East Tournament to "Continue As Planned"

Despite the outbreak of coronavirus across the country, the Big East Tournament will continue with fans as originally planned at Madison Square Garden in New York City, announced Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman on Wednesday afternoon. 

“We are moving forward with the tournament as planned, but it wasn’t without careful deliberation with all of our schools over the past several days including most recently this afternoon,” said Ackerman during her press conference. 

She added, “We’ve been in close touch with other conferences including the Atlantic-10, whose conference basketball tournament started today in Brooklyn and is proceeding as planned.” 

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The Big East announcement comes just after the NCAA announced that its tournament would be played without fans.

Ackerman did add that things could change as the week progresses.

"We are prepared to change/adjust during the tournament if city guidances or state of NY authorities require change," said Ackerman.

The Providence College Friars are set to play their first game of the tournament on Thursday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. against Butler.