What a Disastrous Week for ACC MBB

A little over a week ago, we were all in better a place. There was excitement over whether State MBB could conclude their regular season winning streak and then take the momentum to Greensboro for the ACCT. The excitement for the Women’s team only amplified the feeling that, “things were gonna change around here.”

Beat VT?…Get to the ACC semifinals?…WE GOING DANCINGGGGGGG!!!!!…

In short, Virginia Tech canceled (Hooky Hokies) and State got HANDLED by Syracuse. I’m going to save my anger for a now reoccurring bit Case of the Monday’s, but the fact that we got beat by a guy named “Buddy”, literally and figuratively kills me.

COVID WINS MBB ACC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

We haven’t even played the semis and already this ACC Tourney has been a disaster. Rumors started circulating almost immediately after Duke’s first round game, that the hotel Duke athletics was using, had recent cases. You could hear the screams and cries from ACCN and the folks up in Bristol (I envision it like this 40’s film, where women are fainting and the men with loosened ties look absolutely disheveled).

Then it all happened again. UVA announces they too will be removing themselves with COVID protocol. The – still somehow – reigning National Champion is out, and GT heads straight to the Ship.

But wait, it gets worse. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips made a statement, technically although with no substance, talking about the heartbreak of it all. This line, however, cracked me up;

“We continue to be led by our ACC Medical Advisory Group and the protocols put in place that have allowed our teams to safely compete during the 2020-21 season.”

I don’t know whom is all involved in that “Advisory Group”, but fire them all. This isn’t a new situation for ACC MBB. Since January 2nd, there have been 29 GAMES CANCELED OR POSTPONED. Think about that for a second. Every other day for the last two or so months, a Men’s game just didn’t get played.

Maybe it is truly this wild, uncertain time with an uncontrollable virus. Maybe it all has something to do with scheduling and inability to “punish” those that can’t regulate themselves. I’d like to think two concepts could have helped at this moment.

1. Imagine if maybe the ACC would have put a buffer week into the schedule, between ACCT and NCAAT?
2. Imagine if teams knew they’d be on the hook for a loss, if they were the reason for the postponement or cancelation?

I’ll bet you we would have seen even more thought put into handling the overall situation.

I just feel sorry for the players and staff that took this with the utmost care and consideration. Seasons were ended over the last 48-hours, even though folks have done everything in their power to do what they could. Sorry to you, to hell with the slackers.

Just a week to forget for so many people. At least we can give a shoutout to the State’s WBB team for holding up their end of the bargain.