NCAA Senior VP: 2020 March Madness Bracket Still Being Considered Without Games

Although the 2020 NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments won't take place amid concerns about the coronavirus, the selection committee might still release the men's bracket. 

NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said Friday the organization could still put together an official 68-team field, per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports:

"We're hearing today there's interest from coaches and athletic directors from that. I wouldn't say we've shut down the idea completely, but there is, practically speaking, it's a bit challenging at this moment. ... There's pluses and minuses to any decision. If you put the field together, you could have teams, depending on that conference's policy, would not be the most obvious choice as the [automatic qualifier]. It's something we're going to continue to look at.

"This has been so fast, so emotional, we'll continue to think on it a little bit."

NCAA President Mark Emmert announced Thursday the men's and women's basketball tournaments would be canceled as a result of the threat created by the spread of COVID-19.

Though 19 conference tournaments were canceled as well, each conference is already determined its automatic qualifier based on either regular-season standings or tournament results.

For example, Florida State was crowned the ACC tournament champion as the No. 1 seed in the tournament despite not playing a postseason game. The Ivy League was the first conference to cancel its tournament, naming Yale as the men's representative in the NCAA tournament.

The selection committee would then determine the remaining teams in the field to fill out the 68 spots in the bracket.

Even if the games aren't played, an announcement could represent a reward for those who earned a spot in the field.

"First and foremost for the student-athletes knowing definitively where you are as an NCAA Tournament team, or a No. 1 seed," Gavitt said. "Not based on other bracketologists, but based on the selection committee's decision. That's a big deal. It's what they all play for and to have the kind of recognition and honor that comes with it."

Dayton had a chance to earn a No. 1 seed for the first time in its history, while Rutgers had a chance to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl wanted a Selection Sunday to take place "because Auburn doesn't get to hear its name called that often," per Josh Vitale of the Montgomery Advertiser.

For these programs, a simple bracket release could provide some closure to an otherwise lost postseason.