UNC Basketball: Is an “ACC bubble” a realistic possibility?

Potential options are being discussed as the power conferences look to hold their upcoming sports seasons.

In professional sports, the NBA, WNBA and NHL have utilized the “bubble” concept to continue their abbreviated seasons. By isolating the players, coaches and everyone involved, both major sports have created an atmosphere that aims to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus while also allowing the leagues to finish up their respective campaigns.

So far it has worked for these two sports, but is this a realistic option for some college sports?

On Twitter, CBS Sports College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein reported that several power conferences in college basketball are looking at possible options for the upcoming winter season. One of the options being discussed is to hold games in a “bubble” type of setting, similar to what the professional sports leagues are currently doing. As Rothstein noted in his tweet, there are a handful of options on the table. However, this could definitely be a legitimate option for the power conferences moving forward.

The power conferences could elect to create their own “bubble,” and have teams from within their conference compete against each other over a set time period. As academics play a major role in this as well, student-athletes would have the ability to compete in their sport while conducting their studies via online classes.

For the UNC basketball program, this could mean even more of a heavy dose of the ACC than usual. In order to get as many games in as possible, one potential idea is to have all ACC schools match up with each other twice. This would ensure that each school has 28 regular season contests. Along with the ACC Tournament (which you would expect to be played), that could give each school 30-plus contests heading into the NCAA Tournament in March — we all hope.

There are still plenty of questions that could go along with this concept. Nothing is set in stone,  but there’s a sense that the power conferences want to have a plan put in place well ahead of the start of the winter season to allow everyone the necessary time to prepare, both on and off the court.

It may be different than normal basketball seasons, but an “ACC bubble” could help ensure that the Tar Heels take the court this year.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates surrounding the UNC basketball program.