NEW YORK — Just as he was being given his Big East Player of the Year award on Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, Seton Hall senior Myles Powell learned the breaking news that he will play NCAA Tournament games beginning next week without fans in attendance due to the coronavirus threat.
Powell was processing the unprecedented development just like everyone else — quickly and as best he could.
“You gotta go out there and play,” said the 6-foot-2 Seton Hall senior, who became the first Pirate to win Big East Player of the Year honors since Terry Dehere in 1993. “We still know that we’re one of the top seeds and we’re still going to get everybody’s best shot, fans in there or not. For you to move on, you gotta win and I’m not trying to have my senior year end early so I know for sure I’m going to have my guys ready and I don’t care if we gotta play outside in the park. I mean, we’re gonna be ready.”
Pirates coach Kevin Willard said that holding NCAA Tournament games “with only essential staff and limited family attendance” would change things for the teams.
“Everyone’s going to know everyone’s play calls awfully quick,” Willard said with a laugh. “And I think the refs are going to love it. It’s an adjustment but if this is what it takes, then this is what you have to do.”
Villanova coach Jay Wright compared the NCAA Tournament situation to preseason scrimmages with no fans.
“We scrimmaged North Carolina this year in the Dean Dome with no fans, so we do this, we really do,” Wright said.
“I don’t think it’s going to be as difficult for the players,” he added. “As a coach, your young guys that haven’t experienced [the NCAA Tournament], you feel for them but this is so big. This is a great life lesson for your guys.”
It remains unclear if fans will be permitted beginning Thursday at the Big East Tournament at the Garden when Seton Hall, Villanova and Creighton — the league’s co-champions — all begin play. Creighton plays at noon, Villanova at 7 and Seton Hall at 9:30 (against Marquette).
The Big East is also set to host the NCAA East Regional at the Garden March 27 and 29. Those games will now take place with no fans.
Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman said fans would still be permitted into Wednesday night’s Big East games, but that the situation was fluid and could change by Thursday morning.
“We could consider [having no fans] if that’s the direction that the city would like us to go in,” Ackerman said.
“As far as [Wednesday night] goes, the Garden is open to spectators this evening,” she added. “We have not gotten any guidance from the city, including tonight, so we’re planning to conduct the sessions [Wednesday night] as planned.”
She pointed out that more than 18,000 fans were in the building Tuesday night for a concert featuring a tribute to The Allman Brothers Band.
Asked about potential liability issues to the Big East and the Garden, Ackerman said: “Our understanding is that that would not be the case based on the advice that we received.”
As for the Big East allowing fans — at least for Wednesday — Wright said he was comfortable with it.
“I think the Big East is just going with the New York Dept. of Health and whatever they decide, they’re going to go with it,” he said. “I think the NCAA is projecting out where this could be when we’re playing two weeks from now, and I think intelligently they’re doing that. But the Big East is just following the New York Dept. of Health.”
Willard echoed those sentiments.
“I think you have to listen to what the government’s saying,” Willard said. “And if the government says at this point you can still run the tournament, then I think you still run the tournament the way it is.”
He added: “I’ve probably had 500 texts saying if they ban [fans] I’m coming through the gates anyway.”
Whether or not fans are permitted at the Big East going forward, Powell said the goal was to win basketball games.
“Like I said, whatever the decision is, I’m not going to be the person that’s going to make a change so whatever happens, it happens and when it comes down to it I know we’re going to be ready to play basketball and that’s the only thing that matters at this point,” Powell said.
“Whatever it is, I know we’re going to be ready to hoop.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.