LMU Tips Off Hoops Season in Late November
ROCK HILL, S.C. – On Friday, Sept. 18, the South Atlantic Conference Presidents Council made the decision to begin intercollegiate competition in men's and women's basketball for the 2020-21 season on Saturday, Nov. 21. Teams will also be permitted to begin full team practices on Thursday, Oct. 22. The start date of other winter sports (indoor track and field, swimming and diving and wrestling) will be up to each institution's discretion.
"While we realize we are not out of the woods completely, the pandemic situation has improved and we feel confident in our abilities to allow our student-athletes to compete in a safe environment," said Dr. Maurice Scherrens of Newberry College, Chair of the SAC Presidents Council. "Starting basketball will be a good opportunity for us as a league to test out our protocols and procedures to make sure we are fully prepared for fall, winter and spring sports to be played during the 2021 spring semester."
SAC men's and women's basketball programs will play a 20-game conference schedule with the opportunity for teams to play an additional two non-conference opponents, if teams choose to.
"I am appreciative of the leadership of the Presidents Council, it's a delicate balance to not underreact, yet not overreact, to our current circumstances and I think they managed to find that equilibrium," Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball coach Josh Schertz said. "Like everyone else in college athletics, we were looking for an opportunity to safely compete and for some clarity as to when that might happen. Today's announcement provides that for everyone in the SAC and we look forward to beginning our preparations to be as ready as possible on Nov. 21."
SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz stated, "Our schools have been able to conduct in-person classes and practice activities this fall, and while there have been positive cases and other issues, they have been able to manage them effectively. The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans is still our top priority, but we are confident that we can begin playing some basketball games in November and prepare for all of our sports to compete in the spring semester."
The SAC leadership will continue to assess the NCAA, federal, state, and local developments and provide updated revisions as further information is available, including restrictions on spectator attendance at games.
