As it became apparent the NCAA basketball tournaments could
not be held over three weeks because of concerns about the coronavirus, college
sports officials toyed with a plan to hold a 16-team event to crown a champion
in one long weekend. NCAA vice president of men's basketball Dan Gavitt tells AP
he started to consider ways of condensing the tournament Wednesday night after
the NBA announced one of its players tested positive for the virus and the
league suspended its season. He hoped the men's games could be played in Atlanta, with
the committee choosing the top 16 teams in the country to participate.

NCAA tried to save March Madness with 16-team tournaments