For Barry University and NSU, fall sports pushed back and basketball could be next
Jim Crutchfield, who coaches Nova Southeastern University’s highly successful men’s basketball program, has never been away from his sport for this long.
Now, his wait — which began in March, when the 2019-2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic — might last even longer.
On Saturday, the Sunshine State Conference, which is home to local NCAA Division II programs NSU and Barry University, announced the postponement of all fall sports events for this year. At Barry, that decision will impact women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer. At NSU, it will impact those sports and also men’s and women’s cross-country.
“I’m a little disappointed, but it’s a smart decision,” Barry women’s volleyball coach Steve Hendricks said. “Our priority is the health of our student-athletes and coaches.
“I’m just glad our players can still train and get better.”
Meanwhile, winter sports such as basketball might get pushed back to January, although the conference has yet to make that decision.
“[Being without coaching] has been very sad for me,” said Crutchfield, whose 2019-2020 season ended with his team just about to start its NCAA Tournament run. “My players and I can’t wait to get back on the court. But how do you play during a quarantine?
“I’m just hoping for a vaccine by the end of the year.”
According to certain studies, basketball is among the most dangerous sport in terms of potential for spreading the virus. And among the sports played at NSU and Barry, it is the most dangerous.
Barry men’s basketball coach Butch Estes said he thinks it’s “50-50” his season will start on time.
“The only thing I can do,” Estes said, “is prepare my team like we’re going to play.”
Estes said Barry has three international players who have yet to arrive on campus because of travel bans related to COVID-19: 6-8 Lithuanian forward Justinas Marcinkevicius, 6-7 forward Tomas Mikyska (Czech Republic) and 6-1 guard Lars Espe (Norway).
Marcinkevicius could be a standout this season, but all three players are needed, Estes said.
“With the coronavirus, you had better have all 15 of your players,” Estes said. “This season, more than ever, could be the year of the bench players.”
For NSU, the only player in danger of being stuck overseas is 6-3 freshman guard Sebastian Griffin, although Crutchfield believes the Australian will arrive on campus eventually.
Crutchfield also said his players have been “dedicated” to social distancing and the other recommendations to keep from getting sick.
“I’m in constant contact with all my players,” Crutchfield said. “They’re a mature group.”
As for other local-college teams, here’s what’s happening in regards to the pandemic and sports:
▪ In a move that impacts Miami Dade College, the National Junior College Athletic Association has postponed all events that had been scheduled for this year. MDC will now start all five of its sports — volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball — in January.
▪ The NAIA, home to local programs such as St. Thomas, Florida Memorial and Johnson & Wales, is still on for fall sports.
THIS AND THAT
▪ Estes recently signed freshman Nick Anderson, a 6-2, 170-pound guard from Indiana. Anderson averaged 24.3 points as a prep senior, producing eight 30-point games and one in which he set a school record with 11 three-pointers.
▪ New Barry women’s basketball coach Kristina Baugh is a former Division I player for Providence College. For the past five years, she coached Division III Massachusetts-Boston to an 87-49 record. She also spent one season coaching men’s basketball (Carolina Cheetahs of the ABA).