No seriously, let’s just do this and stop pretending the current way works.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Even as COVID-19 cases seem to be going down throughout the country, the instances of cancelled college basketball games appear to be going up (at least partially coinciding with general student populations returning to campuses). With this in mind, and for the sake of everyone’s well-being, it’s probably best to cut the charade and just go to bubble play early.
With conference tournaments already very much in either doubt, peril or both, why not do what you can to minimize lost postseason games now? The ACC could be at the forefront of adjusting its schedule for both player safety and solidifying TV inventory on ESPN for the rest of the season. “All” they have to do is just head down to Greensboro a little early.
Rather than have the ACC travel to play regular season games until March 6 — just three days before the start of the conference tournament — why not hit pause now? Given everyone a week to test, quarantine and make needed arrangements, and then potentially close out the regular season from Feb. 20-Mar. 6 in Greensboro.
To keep things moving, it’s also for the best to end Boston College’s season here given COVID issues and availability questions within the Eagles’ program. So that means you’re still taking the top 14 teams down, with the goal of playing four games apiece over the span of 15 days.
You wouldn’t even have to change the schedule much for any team (other than BC, who wouldn’t have one). Here’s how it could look:
Saturday, Feb. 20
- Virginia vs. Duke
- Louisville vs. North Carolina
- Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
- NC State vs. Wake Forest
Sunday, Feb. 21
- Florida State vs. Pittsburgh
- Virginia Tech vs. Clemson
Monday, Feb. 22
- Georgia Tech vs. Miami
- Virginia vs. NC State
Tuesday, Feb. 23
- Louisville vs. Notre Dame
- North Carolina vs. Syracuse
Wednesday, Feb. 24
- Florida State vs. Miami
- Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech
- Clemson vs. Wake Forest
Thursday, Feb. 25
- Duke vs. Pittsburgh
Friday, Feb. 26
- Virginia vs, Miami
- Florida State vs. North Carolina
- Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest
Saturday, Feb. 27
- Louisville vs. Clemson
- Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
Sunday, Feb. 28
- Pittsburgh vs. NC State
- Duke vs. Notre Dame
Monday, Mar. 1
- Virginia vs. Clemson
Tuesday, Mar. 2
- Syracuse vs. Florida State
Wednesday, Mar. 3
- Louisville vs. Duke
- Virginia Tech vs. Miami
Thursday, Mar. 4
- Notre Dame vs. NC State
Friday, Mar. 5
- Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest
Saturday, Mar. 6
- North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech
And from there, you get three days’ break from weeks of tournament-like action before the actual conference tournament. Sound fun? I certainly think so. Also, everyone gets a NET boost from all of these games being on a neutral site.
Cool? Cool. ACC, let’s get moving on this ASAP.
