press release by the MIAA<\/a>, the decision involved discussions regarding the NCAA Sports Science Institute\u2019s Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball, which includes regulations regarding testing and travel for teams.\u00a0 Ultimately, the conclusion was to proceed as planned with both men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball schedules.\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cSince it doesn\u2019t appear at this time that the NCAA is going to be moving the postseason basketball tournament into April, our conference has voted to begin the basketball season as originally scheduled,\u201d FHSU athletic director, Curtis Hammeke, said. \u201cMoving the tournament to April would have made it more realistic to move the start date for basketball into January.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the Tigers, this means that the college basketball season will officially begin with practices on Oct. 15.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under their current schedules, the men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball teams are set to begin competition in November.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women\u2019s basketball program has two exhibition games scheduled — Nov. 2 against UCONN and Nov. 5 against Kansas State. The official season for the team begins with a home game against Washburn, Nov. 18.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Tigers have been preparing for this traditional start to the season in such a way that they are ready to begin official practice in just two weeks.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur team is doing close to what we would normally do, with protocols being followed: individual and team workouts with weight training and conditioning,\u201d women\u2019s basketball head coach, Tony Hobson, said.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Likewise, the men\u2019s team has been training under precautions so that they are able to begin their season at the same time. Indeed, the men\u2019s basketball program will also face the Washburn Ichabods in their home opener on Nov. 18.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur team is excited to be starting on time and looks forward to the first day of official practice,\u201d men\u2019s basketball head coach, Mark Johnson, said.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While both basketball teams continue preparing as though this were a \u201cnormal\u201d season, concerns remain regarding NCAA regulations for testing. Most of the issues posed arise from the increased cost of testing players on a regular basis.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce the testing starts for all teams with the arrival of competition with other teams a normal type season will be impossible,\u201d Hobson said. \u201cThere will be some positive tests on teams and the games will be shut down and rescheduled. There will be hurdles we might not be able to jump at this level.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Hobson, this challenge is one that many schools similar in size to FHSU must face when compared to larger universities, as well as high schools and NAIA colleges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe protocols are put into place for schools with massive dollar and people resources that our league does not have. High schools and NAIA colleges are going full steam ahead with all sports because they don\u2019t do testing,\u201d Hobson said. \u201cThere is probably not one team that wouldn\u2019t have a positive test. They only test with symptoms. The rules put in place by the NCAA are making it very difficult for Division II schools to have a season.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson echoed this apprehension.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTesting is a concern and questions still remain on how many tests a week and how they will be administered,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe will be diligent and try to protect ourselves to the best of our abilities.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, Hobson was encouraged by the announcement while remaining aware that the situation can change quickly.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This mentality will also impact wrestling and indoor track and field seasons, especially as the MIAA announcement did not lay out official start dates for these sports. This decision was made because schedules have not been finalized by all institutions.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCompetition for wrestling and indoor track has been left to the discretion of institutions for this winter,\u201d Hammeke said. \u201cWe are currently looking at the options for both sports and will make decisions in the near future.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The release from the MIAA did more than just address winter sports. In fact, it laid out guidelines for football and cross country. According to the announcement, neither team will be able to participate in championship events this academic year. However, MIAA football will be able to compete in up to four scrimmages or games with outside or MIAA institutions in the spring.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also included in the decision was a provision regarding women\u2019s soccer and volleyball. The MIAA plans to offer seasons for both sports, though the schedules and general guidelines have yet to be determined.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs for volleyball and soccer, schedules are being discussed through committees at the conference level,\u201d Hammeke said.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even as these plans begin to take shape, much has yet to be determined for the future of FHSU Athletics. For the time being, the Tiger basketball teams can look forward to seasons beginning in just over a month as Gross Memorial Coliseum prepares for its winter sports.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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