College basketball in 2020 will look like college basketball in 2020: masks, spacing, limited fans, the gamut. But if college football was a bit crazy, you can probably turn the knob up. More teams, more games, and a smaller margin for error raises leads to greater uncertainty.
"The one thing that is predicable is the unpredictability," said head coach Bob Marlin. "You try to control what you can control and roll with it and continue to go to the next day and see what happens."
Last week Louisiana's opener against Xavier was already canceled, the women's basketball team also had its first two games canceled. The women won't play until December 4th. Nationally the landscape is similar. In the SEC, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida have shut down team activities due to COVID. While teams are excited to play, the uncertainty causes angst.
"I believe everyone is anxious, just from talking to other coaches around the country," Marlin said. "They're anxious to get to the court, knowing everything is going to be hit or miss. We're going to have to be fluid in what goes on. We've said it before we're going to have to be comfortable being uncomfortable."
The University of Louisiana has not released its fan protocols for the season, but its safe to expect full 2020 precautions. As for the team, all Sun Belt basketball teams will be exposed to routine testing per the Sun Belt's policy. Players will be spaced in assigned seats in the bench are similar to the NBA, and Marlin says a full mask policy will be enforced for those not on the floor.
Louisiana hosts Loyola (N.O.) Saturday at the Cajundome.
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