Here’s what basketball fans are saying about Big 12’s ban over coronavirus concerns
A good ol’ boys trip.
That’s what Brad Lowry and a couple of his friends were expecting when they made the trip from Texas to Kansas City for the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament this week.
“We’re excited about it,” said Lowry, a TCU fan from Argyle. “We hope it doesn’t get canceled.”
Lowry made the comments as he headed into KC’s Sprint Center for the opening session on Wednesday night. Oklahoma State defeated Iowa State in the first game, while TCU and Kansas State faced off in the nightcap.
Well, bad news broke for Lowry and his friends an hour or so later when the Big 12 announced it would go to “limited attendance” for its conference tournaments starting on Thursday, citing growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus.
When the Big 12 made the announcement during Wednesday’s sessions, fans expressed their displeasure with a chorus of boos.
For Lowry and his friend, Lloyd Stone of Mount Vernon, the threat of coronavirus didn’t sit well as a reason to ban fans.
“We’re in panic mode,” Lowry said. “If there’s reason to believe that shutting down college campuses and [tournaments] will help halt the spread, then maybe it’s the right thing. I don’t know. I’m just skeptical of that.”
Stone, a 60-year-old Baylor fan, agreed with that sentiment.
“From what I’ve seen, the flu has killed a whole lot more people than the coronavirus,” Stone said. “I think it’s getting overblown by the media and I hope I’m right. I do see a threat there, but I think it’s getting overblown.”
Kerby Haltom, a 57-year-old who drove from Fort Worth to KC for the tournament with his 82-year-old mom Amelia, expressed disappointment if the Big 12 opted to play in front of no fans.
“Well, we drove up here to watch a bunch of basketball,” Haltom said. “But I do understand the concern.”
Haltom simply didn’t think the threat of coronavirus was strong enough to alter his plans.
As he said, “Concern? Yeah. Panic? No. Be careful and wash your hands. Don’t hug people you don’t know.”
The Big 12 men’s tournament continues with four quarterfinal matchups on Thursday in front of what will mostly be an empty stadium. Teams are being allotted 125 tickets for their games, which will be distributed to school staff and players’ family and friends.
The women’s tournament at nearby Municipal Auditorium starts on Thursday with its opening-round games. The TCU women’s team is the No. 2 seed and will play in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Friday.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
