Tim Benz: Players, teams that could suffer most under coronavirus sports shutdown

The coronavirus sports shutdown may be worse than originally thought.

On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control recommended “that for the next 8 weeks, organizers … cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.”

That means sports.

All of ‘em.

The NCAA basketball tournament has already been scrubbed.

Previously, Major League Baseball had only talked about shutting down for the first two weeks of the regular season. The NHL was talking about allowing players to return and skate in small groups while games are not being played within two weeks. And commissioner Adam Silver put a 30-day suspension of play in place for the NBA.

Now the NBA is preparing for a mid-June return. At best.

This is getting more gloomy by the day.

It’s even worse for the athletes and teams involved. And for some fan bases that were in pretty unique situations to see their teams succeed.

If the sports shutdown should continue to the point that all leagues suffer the same fate as the NCAA tournament and get wiped out entirely, here are the players and clubs that are being impacted the most.

Obi Toppin and the Dayton men’s basketball team

There were quite a few teams going into the NCAA tournament that had tremendous storylines.

Hofstra clinched its first NCAA berth in 19 years. Rutgers was about to gain entry to the Big Dance for the first time in 29 years. And a 30-2 San Diego State team had a great chance of getting to its first Final Four.

But what about the poor Dayton Flyers with potential National Player of the Year candidate Obi Toppin? They were 29-2, unbeaten in the Atlantic 10, and a potential No.1 seed in the tournament.

It was a golden opportunity for them to get to the Final Four for the first time since 1967.

This is likely the best Dayton team of all time and likely the best one the school will ever see. Toppin is almost assuredly going to the NBA. They’ll also lose seniors Trey Landers and Ryan Mikesell.

This may be as good as it ever gets for the Flyers. And my heart aches for this team being unable to see through its dreams and for its fans being unable to watch a special season culminate.

Baylor men’s and women’s basketball

The Baylor men’s and women’s squads had a chance to pull off a rare double championship.

The Bears are ranked fifth in the latest men’s AP Top 25. The women’s team is No. 2 and the defending NCAA champs, looking for a repeat.

The two teams were a combined 54-4 this year.

The Baylor men’s team hasn’t been to the Final Four since 1950.

Oh, back to Dayton for a minute. The Flyers’ women’s team was 15-1 in conference play, and Atlantic 10 champions.

So that school could’ve been in a similar position.

The Milwaukee Bucks

Like Dayton, it’s entirely possible the Bucks are the best team with the best player in basketball on the pro level.

Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has the Bucks at 53-12. That’s the best record in the league. They have a 6 ½ game lead on Toronto for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks haven’t won a title since 1971. They haven’t gone to the finals since 1974.

This could’ve been their year to do that.

The St. Louis Blues

Remember how special it was when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years?

Either time?

That’s what the St. Louis Blues were on the verge of doing.

After winning the Stanley Cup last year, St. Louis hit the shutdown with 94 points. That was the best total in the Western Conference and second best in the NHL behind Boston’s total of 100.

The Blues won eight of their last 10 games before the league was halted. Their 23 home wins were the best in the Western Conference.

Any fringe NFL draft choice

On Friday, the NFL sent out a memo to teams prohibiting them from traveling to visit draft prospects or inviting players to their facilities.

So that means as the draft approaches, the NFL’s decision is shutting down pro days held at schools across the country.

That means hundreds of players hoping to play — or interview — their way into the draft won’t have that opportunity.

This issue wasn’t lost on Joe Burrow. He’s expected to be the first overall pick in the draft. And he’s feeling for those who won’t have a chance to show their abilities.

This story I heard today from an #LSU staffer is a good window into why coaches love Joe Burrow so much. pic.twitter.com/UDQzj2rjj4

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) March 14, 2020

If only he had the chance.