Kansas Jayhawks’ early-season basketball tournaments headed to the ‘bubble’: report
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team could be headed to Orlando, Florida and the Disney World “bubble” for a pair of early-season events.
CBSsports.com’s Jon Rothstein reported Tuesday that the season-opening Champions Classic, originally set for Nov. 10 matching KU against Kentucky and Michigan State against Duke, will be played at the Disney Wide World of Sports, where the NBA has been holding its playoffs with no fans in attendance and players, coaches and staff sequestered from the public to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Wooden Legacy tournament, set for Nov. 27, also is headed to Orlando, Rothstein reports. The field for that tourney, originally set for to be played in Anaheim, California, consists of KU, Virginia, Georgetown and UCLA with no matchups yet announced.
One potential problem is the Pac-12 has no sports scheduled to be played until after Dec. 31. It has been speculated, however, that basketball in that league could begin on time. UCLA of the Pac-12 is in the Wooden. Also, Michigan State is not playing football at this time, with no firm decision announced on the start of basketball season in the Big Ten.
Sources close to the Wooden Classic tell The Star that plans have been in the works for that two-day tourney indeed being moved to Orlando. Another source also confirms Rothstein’s report of the Champions Classic likely moving to Disney World. Dates for the two events could be announced Wednesday. That’s when the NCAA will announce a new starting date for basketball season.
Rothstein says in addition to the Champions Classic and Wooden, the Jimmy V Classic, Preseason NIT, Orlando Invitational, Myrtle Beach Invitational, Charleston Classic and Diamond Head Classic will all be played in Orlando in the bubble.
Rothstein’s sources say no fans are currently expected to be in attendance for any of the events.
