The 2020 NCAA men's and women's college basketball tournament is canceled along with all other remaining winter and spring championships, the NCAA released in a statement. This comes after conferences across the country decided to cancel their tournaments for safety reasons to address the coronavirus pandemic.

"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships," NCAA media contact Stacey Osburn released in a statement. "This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities."

Schools individually announced plans to shut down athletics and travel before the NCAA made the call. That includes Duke, where athletic director Kevin White serves as tournament chair.



"During this unpredictable time, Duke Athletics fully supports all measures to protect the health and welfare of the Duke family and beyond," White said. " While we understand this may be daunting to many, please know that this decision is entirely in the best interest of all student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans."

The NBA led the way on the issue, suspending its season Wednesday night.

“The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminary tested positive for COVID-19,” the NBA announced in a press release. “The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight’s game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, tonight’s game was cancelled. The affected player was not in the arena.

“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Rudy Gobert, the Jazz' All-Star center, was the one who tested positive. This morning, fellow Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell also tested positive.

Coronavirus spreads between people in close contact with one another, typically within six feet, or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Spread is still possible before people show symptoms, although that does not stand as the typical cause, according to the CDC.

Symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath can surface 2-14 days after exposure. Without an existing vaccination to prevent the disease, the best way for prevention is avoiding exposure.