The Pac-12 and Big Ten became the first Power Five NCAA conferences to send fans home for the conference tournament Wednesday.
Beginning Thursday, the tournament games in the two conferences will be limited to student-athletes, coaches, event and essential staff, credentialed media and immediate family members of the participating teams.
It followed on the heels of the NCAA announcement that the 64-team tournament will follow similar guidelines.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said the men's and women's Division I college basketball tournament games, scheduled to begin next week, will be closed to all but essential staff members and players' families.