In Gene Smith’s mind, there was no question about the decision that had to be made.
With the novel coronavirus beginning to spread throughout the United States, Ohio State’s athletic director felt the only responsible decision to make was the one that the NCAA made on Thursday, which was to cancel all championship events for the remainder of the academic year, including the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The Big Ten soon followed suit by announcing that all winter and spring sports competitions for conference school would be canceled for the remainder of the academic year, bringing an abrupt end to many teams’ seasons.