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Following a ton of event cancellations and suspensions at the college and professional levels due to concerns involving COVID-19, the Big Ten conference announced that it has cancelled all spring sports for the 2019-20 school year.
“The Big Ten Conference announced today that in addition to the Men’s Basketball Tournament it will be canceling all conference and non-conference competitions through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year, and participation in all NCAA tournaments and competitions,” the statement read. “In addition, the Conference has announced a moratorium on all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for the foreseeable future.”
The decision comes after the Ivy League canceled its entire spring sports season March 11 and the Atlantic Coast Conference followed suit earlier Thursday.
Maryland athletics made its first official statement March 11 on coronavirus, banning fans from attending events and allowing only student-athletes, coaches, essential personnel, official, credentialed media and a limited number of family member of competing team into the games.
Previously, practices, home and away games were permitted. And Maryland athletics said it would implement increased sanitation of locker rooms, equipment and commonly touched surfaces.
But since that announcement, concerns regarding the coronavirus has increased with all Power 5 conferences — including the Big Ten — canceling its men’s basketball tournament and the NBA postponing int regular season.
No. 6 Maryland men’s lacrosse was scheduled to play No. 9 Virginia March 14 and North Carolina March 21, but the ACC announced Thursday afternoon that it was suspending all activities until further notice.
Other weekend Terp athletic events included No. 11 Maryland women’s lacrosse’s matchup with Rutgers Saturday; Maryland softball was traveling to Fairfax, Virginia, for the Cherry Blossom Classic and Maryland baseball was scheduled to be in Fort Worth, Texas, for a series against TCU.