By ADAM ZAGORIA
St. John’s is among several Division 1 college basketball teams in New York State that is unlikely to travel to Orlando for non-conference events in November and December.
Coach Mike Anderson’s crew is slated to play in the NIT Preseason Tip-Off also featuring Arizona, Cincinnati and Texas Tech. It is one of eight ESPN events that is slated to be moved to the Orlando bubble where the NBA playoffs are being held.
“It would be very risky for us to put it on our schedule – and then have to sit out two weeks after, which is why we are exploring all options including studying that event and others,” St. John’s AD Mike Cragg said.
On June 25, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 205, requiring all travelers to quarantine for a 14-day period after traveling for 24 hours or longer within designated states that have significant rates of transmission of COVID-19.
Due to this rule, Siena won’t play in the Orlando Invitational which also features Xavier, Boise State, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Saint Louis, Belmont and Auburn. (Nebraska and Dayton have also opted out of events in Orlando, while Pittsburgh is considering pulling out too, a source confirmed.)
“No, [we] would have to quarantine upon return to NY for 14 days,” Siena coach Carmen Maciariello said by text.
Syracuse was not slated to play any events in Orlando, but head coach Jim Boeheim said his team would play mostly “local non-conference games” due to COVID. Boeheim said the Gotham Classic game with LSU originally slated for Dec. 19 at Madison Square Garden was “probably not going to work.” That event also gave Syracuse three home games with Mercer, Jacksonville State and Green Bay.
They are hoping to possibly host an MTE at Syracuse or play one at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, which will host several events.
The Syracuse football team was able to travel earlier this month to North Carolina, a hot spot state, as well as Pennsylvania because they weren’t in those states for 24 hours. The time period is measured from touchdown to takeoff.
Most teams are waiting for their leagues to announce official scheduling plans before settling on their non-conference. The Big East and ACC have yet to announce scheduling plans, but are expected to begin in mid-December.
“Many teams waiting for their league approval first before they schedule non-con,” ,” Maciariello said. “The MAAC was done early with great foresight and vision. Others [are] playing catch up.”
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