NCAA Decision to Cancel Championships Cuts Ionescu, Pritchard Duck Careers Short
The NCAA canceled the men’s and women’s Division I NCAA Tournaments, and all winter and spring NCAA Championship events Thursday afternoon.
It’s unfair. It’s just not fair. Unfinished business will stay unfinished.
It appears our ‘unfinished business’ will remain just that. Disappointed but I completely understand. I love & I hurt for my team❤️ pic.twitter.com/jL5LZ6ZwVT
— Kelly Graves (@GoDucksKG) March 12, 2020
Oregon seniors Sabrina Ionescu and Payton Pritchard returned to Eugene for their final seasons with obvious goals in mind: Win a National Championship.
Unfortunately, now neither will have that chance to fight for a title. Ionescu and the Ducks women were able to complete one step of the process when they clinched the Pac-12 last week, but Pritchard didn’t get to play a game in the men’s Pac-12 Tournament because it was canceled hours before round two started Thursday.
The Oregon women compiled a resume that deserved at least a shot to punctuate it with a title. The Oregon men were the top team in the Pac-12 and arguably deserved a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament. But now? Ionescu and Pritchard are just done in college.
Ionescu still deserves the National Player of the Year award, and Pritchard certainly deserved massive consideration for the award on the men’s side.
The NCAA’s decision is disappointing, but it’s the right one.
Here’s reaction from Twitter:
Taylor Chavez, Oregon sophomore and Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year –
i’m absolutely heartbroken….
— Taylor Chavez (@Taylormichele3) March 12, 2020
Tyson Alger, Oregon Ducks Reporter at The Athletic –
Payton Pritchard has been at the center of basketball in the state of Oregon for the last eight years. He won four state titles, reached the Final Four as a freshman and has spent the last three seasons turning into the player and leader he knew he could be.
And now it’s over.
— Tyson Alger (@tysonalger) March 12, 2020
Minyon Moore, Oregon senior and Pac-12 All-Defensive Teamer –
I’m broken…. my college journey is really over, thank you Oregon 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/rOZ9Y7eyDl
— Minyon Moore (@MinyonMoore) March 12, 2020
ESPNW –
An unexpected ending to an unbelievable career.
Thank you, @Sabrina_i20 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ammG9y40aR
— espnW (@espnW) March 12, 2020
Bleacher Report –
Sabrina Ionescu put Oregon WBB on the map and leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
The Ducks star has now played her final college game after an incredible career @brhoops pic.twitter.com/vAkvPSN3ck
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2020
