Northwestern will officially be credited with a pair of losses for two women’s college basketball games it never played. Meanwhile, the Big Ten decided that both USC and UCLA will each receive a win.
I truly think this might be the most absurd ruling of all-time when it comes to collegiate athletics, and that says a lot.
The good news is that this decision probably won’t have an impact on women’s college basketball as a whole. The Wildcats are not very good this year. Barring a shocking run in the conference tournament, they will not make March Madness.
The bad news is that this decision will tarnish the record of a team that never got an opportunity to compete. And that’s ridiculous!
Northwestern was scheduled to play in Westwood against the Bruins on Jan. 12. It was then supposed to play against the Trojans just three days later. However, the program chose not to travel because of “concerns surrounding ongoing wildfires affecting the greater Los Angeles area.”
The devastating wildfires in California started three days prior to the university’s announcement. It took weeks for some of the fires to be contained. Although USC and UCLA both played against Penn State during that same timeframe, multiple NBA games were canceled. Some nearby universities were forced to postpone and/or cancel games. Others chose not to travel.
Even though the Wildcats made a completely reasonable decision, the Big Ten ruled on Wednesday that both games they did not play in Los Angeles last month will be counted as losses.
The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday that Northwestern’s women’s basketball contests at UCLA (Jan. 12) and at USC (Jan. 15) will not be rescheduled.
Per Conference rules, forfeitures will be assessed to Northwestern. As a result, the Wildcats will receive two losses in the conference standings, while UCLA and USC each will be credited with a win.
— Big Ten Conference
Northwestern accepted the ruling and took the high road, because what else was it supposed to do? Athletic director Mark Jackson still made sure to establish the university’s positioning and logic as sound.
Northwestern Athletics accepts the decision by the Big Ten Conference to strictly apply the Conference bylaws as written, in issuing forfeits for missed competitions by Northwestern’s Women’s Basketball after the team’s decision not to travel to Los Angeles during the tragic wildfires in Southern California.
While we acknowledge that bylaws and rules are in place for a reason and we will abide by them, it does not diminish this team’s sound reasoning for not participating during this natural disaster. We will continue to support our Women’s Basketball student-athletes and hope for a strong recovery for the Southern California region.
— Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson
I cannot believe this is the final outcome as decided upon by the Big Ten and its supposed bylaws. The NFL moved a playoff game due to the wildfires in Los Angeles! Surely an exception can be made to rule the two women’s college basketball games as no contest. There is no reason to give a 9-15 team two extra losses.
The NCAA Tournament committee is not going to view USC and UCLA’s extra win as legitimate. What’s the point? I just don’t get it.