SAN DIEGO _ San Diego State's basketball team went 30-2 and was ranked sixth in both major polls.
Its season is now over.
Fifth-year seniors KJ Feagin and Yanni Wetzell, who transferred from losing programs to SDSU for their final season with hopes of reaching an NCAA Tournament, won't get that chance. Early Thursday afternoon, the NCAA canceled all winter and spring championship events to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, including the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
"We had such a special team this year," fellow senior Nolan Narain tweeted, "it hurts so much to know that we won't get a chance to compete for a National Championship. I want to thank all of my teammates, coaches and fans at SDSU for making these past 5 years of my life so special. I love you all."
Assistant coach Dave Velasquez tweeted: "30-2! Let's celebrate the hard work, the process, the journey and the love we have for one another. Control what we can control. Love you fellas! You all know that!!"
To which Feagin replied: "No, thank you Coach! These memories will last a lifetime. Wish we had the chance to show the world what we really was about!"
A day earlier, the NCAA had announced it would play the tournaments without general-public spectators. But the sentiment changed Wednesday night, when the NBA suspended all games after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert reportedly tested positive for the virus.
By morning, the NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer had scrapped games as well for the immediate future. It was only a matter of time, seemingly, before the NCAA did as well.
That includes the Division II men's basketball West Regional scheduled to begin Friday at UCSD's RIMAC Arena, involving both UCSD and Point Loma Nazarene. The Tritons are 30-1 and ranked No. 4 in Div. II in their final year before elevating to Div. I.
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