Early on March 12, amid concerns over the spreading COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the Big East Conference issued a statement that it would limit attendance during the rest of the tournament to student-athletes, coaches, team staff, event staff, essential media, and immediate family members [1] The first quarterfinal game, with Creighton facing St. John's, began on March 12, but during halftime, with St. John's leading 38–35,[2] the Big East Conference cancelled the rest of the game and all remaining tournament games in order to further reduce the possibility of spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for cases of COVID-19.
[3] The winner was to have received the conference's bid to the 2020 NCAA tournament, which also was cancelled on March 12, 2020.
All 10 Big East schools were slated to participate in the tournament.
Seeding for the tournament was determined at the close of the regular conference season.
*Attendance by the general public was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic