Syracuse Basketball: NCAA details its Covid-19 protocols for Big Dance

Should Syracuse basketball get a 2021 NCAA Tournament invite, it will have to adhere to numerous Covid-19 testing measures.

Following Wednesday night’s devastating loss at home to Pittsburgh, I’m sure that not many Syracuse basketball fans out there are feeling super optimistic about the Orange’s chances to earn a berth in the 2021 March Madness.

However, the ‘Cuse is 6-2, the 2020-21 season is still young, and the Orange has plenty of opportunities to make up for the really awful setback to the Panthers on Wednesday evening from the Carrier Dome.

If Syracuse basketball gets on a roll and, ultimately, receives a bid to this spring’s Big Dance, it will have to follow a bunch of Covid-19 health and safety protocols outlined by NCAA officials in this new announcement.

In its press release, the NCAA discusses what it refers to as “Tier 1 travel party participants,” and these are, among others, the student-athletes, coaches, trainers, medical personnel, equipment-staff members and officials.

Per the NCAA, these Tier 1 folks will have to show seven-consecutive negative Covid-19 tests prior to arriving for the 2021 March Madness. As we recently noted, this year’s event is going to take place in the state of Indiana, with most of the games occurring in Indianapolis.

Tier 1 individuals will undergo PCR tests for Covid-19 as they arrive at the tournament and on a daily basis throughout the Big Dance, according to the media statement.

The NCAA says that it is arranging charter bus or air travel for these Tier 1 participants.

Teams suiting up in the tourney will reside in Marion County hotels for as long as they are involved in the event, with meals either in-room “or in physically distanced meal rooms with assigned seating.”

Other than when practicing or playing in games, all of these Tier 1 individuals must socially distance and wear masks. Exceptions to this, naturally, are when they are alone in their hotel rooms or eating.

Throughout the NCAA Tournament, including at practices and in contests, Tier 1 people will also wear KINEXON movement devices to help with contact tracing and possible quarantining if there are any positive Covid-19 tests.

"While NCAA officials say that they plan to reveal their overarching attendance policy for March Madness after Feb. 1, “Up to six family members per Tier 1 participant (up to 420 family members total) will be allowed in each venue per game. The family members will be prohibited from interacting in person with any of the Tier 1 participants during the entire tournament. They will be seated in physically distanced family clusters.”"

I believe that these health and safety protocols are appropriate and comprehensive. I hope that a 2021 NCAA Tournament is able to get played amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. And my fingers are crossed that Syracuse basketball makes the field.