INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) formally announced its men’s and women’s basketball schedules Thursday, following a unanimous vote of approval by the GLVC Council of Presidents on Oct. 6. Both sports are permitted to begin practicing on Oct. 15.
The schedule announcement is a significant step in the league’s safe return to competition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball slates will be a 22-game conference-only closed schedule for the league’s 15 teams that will be divided into three five-team divisions. The East Division will consist of Illinois Springfield, Indianapolis, Lewis, McKendree and Southern Indiana; the Central Division will feature Lindenwood, Maryville, Missouri-St. Louis, Quincy and Truman; and the West Division will be home to Drury, Missouri S&T, Rockhurst, Southwest Baptist and William Jewell.
Among the highlights of the schedule, all 15 teams will play a balanced schedule of 11 home games and 11 away games. Each team will play its divisional opponent twice, both home and away, and will also battle home and away contests against four random non-divisional opponents, while playing every other non-divisional opponent once.
The 2021 GLVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament is scheduled for March 4-7 at a site to be determined, and will feature the top eight teams based on the GLVC’s Point Rating System.
“After discussing a number of scheduling parameters for the season, we are pleased to be able to proceed with our basketball schedules this year,” said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich. “As we have done with all of our sports thus far, we will continue to do our due diligence in reviewing the testing guidelines put forth by the NCAA Sport Science Institute, as the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans remains our top priority.”
At this time, spectators will be prohibited at all GLVC basketball games, which will be contested with essential personnel only. UIndy Vice President or Intercollegiate Scott Young reinforced the league’s stance.
“Though we would like nothing more than to welcome back our loyal Greyhound fans, the UIndy athletics department will not be allowing spectators at on-campus events this fall,” said the Greyhound leader. “This will ensure we stay compliant with the current phase of the University’s re-engagement plan and better protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, game-day workers and campus community as a whole.”
The GLVC will continue to work closely with its member institutions as it evaluates the national, regional and local landscapes, and review and modify game-environment procedures as necessary.
Added Young: “We will reevaluate the situation prior to the start of the spring semester and make an announcement on the plan going forward.”
Meanwhile, video streams of UIndy basketball games will continue to be available for no cost on the GLVC Sports Network. The Greyhounds will host William Jewell in the opener, with the men’s and women’s doubleheader set for Friday, Nov. 27.
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