All South Carolina and SEC games will be played in empty venues this month

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When the South Carolina men’s basketball team takes the floor Thursday night at the SEC tournament, it won’t hear much noise from a crowd, hostile or friendly.

That’s because there will be no fans in the building after the SEC announced it will follow the NCAA’s lead in emptying arenas for postseason games because of coronavirus concerns.

Only essential personnel, limited family and credentialed media will be at the games.

The SEC further announced: “all regular season contests in all sports on SEC campuses and SEC Championship events will be conducted with similar attendance restrictions effective Thursday, March 12 through at least March 30 at which time the conference and its member universities will re-evaluate conditions.”

Gamecocks coach Frank Martin was asked about the possibility earlier in the afternoon and he had some good humor about it.

“Our very first year in the league, we’re playing Mississippi State, I believe it was the 12-13 game on Wednesday night,” Martin said. “It was first game out of the chute and we walked out in the arena and the signs weren’t even out. No one even knew we’re playing the game, on game day.

“Everyone else in the league is going to find out how we felt that first year, it’s safe to say. ... There’s maybe 37 people watching that game back then.”

Martin said he trusted in the leadership of his school and the sport to make the correct decisions. He described the situation as fluid, not ulike his own experience coaching when unexpected things came up.

“The safety and well-being of our student-athletes, fans, coaches and staff is the most important responsibility we have in our athletics department,” Gamecocks AD Ray Tanner said in a statement. “By limiting attendance at home athletics events, the SEC believes we are reducing the chances that the COVID-19 virus will spread in our community. I know this is disappointing for our great fans, but it is done with an abundance of caution during this difficult time.”

The school said refund information will be released soon.

The games Wednesday night were played with fans.

The Gamecocks play late Thursday against the winner of Arkansas-Vanderbilt.

Gamecocks forward Justin Minaya said he probably hasn’t played in a truly empty gym since early morning AAU games. Guard Jermaine Couisnard had to go back to eighth grade ball.

“It would definitely be crazy,” Minaya said. “ It would definitely be something I had never experienced before. But, I mean, if that’s what you got to do, then just go out there and play and then see what happens.”

Statement from the SEC:

The Southeastern Conference has announced it will conduct the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament with only essential staff, limited family and credentialed media in attendance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the remainder of the week beginning on Thursday following the recommendation of the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel related to conducting sporting events closed to the public.

In addition, the SEC announced that all regular season contests in all sports on SEC campuses and SEC Championship events will be conducted with similar attendance restrictions effective Thursday, March 12 through at least March 30 at which time the conference and its member universities will re-evaluate conditions.

The SEC issued a statement from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey:

“In light of recent developments beyond our control related to the spread of the coronavirus, including a recommendation from the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, and after consultation with our member universities, we have made the difficult decision to hold the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville without spectators beginning with games of Thursday, March 12. Effective immediately, the policy will also apply to other SEC Championship events and on-campus regular season games scheduled through at least the end of March.

“After conferring with local and national health authorities, we remain confident in our ability to safeguard the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and other staff who will be participating as well as the limited number of family members and media who will be in attendance at the tournament.

“We regret the inconvenience and disappointment this decision has caused our fans, especially those who have already traveled to Nashville for the tournament.”

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For the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, automatic refunds of ticket purchases will be made to fans who are the original purchaser of the tickets from SEC Office or an SEC university, or a verified purchaser on the SEC Ticket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster. For regular season events, each campus will determine refund policies and procedures.