Big West Releases 2020-21 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Schedules

The Big West Conference has announced a modified schedule for men’s and women’s basketball that will reduce travel and emphasize the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff

By California State University, Bakersfield

October 21^st, 2020

IRVINE, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield received positive news Wednesday when the Big West Conference announced the 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball conference schedules. The announcement represents progress toward the ultimate goal of Roadrunner and Big West scholar-athletes returning to competition.

All 11 member institutions will play 20 games, but under a modified format that will reduce travel and emphasize the health and safety of scholar-athletes, coaches and staff.

“The Big West Board of Directors did due diligence in examining all of the factors involved in a safe and responsible return to competition, with basketball being the pilot moving forward,” said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. “The Big West Conference understands the need for consistent and multi-layered levels of testing protocols that put safety at the forefront for our member institutions. Cognizant of state and county restrictions, and the NCAA Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball, we feel we have a plan in place that will adhere to those mandates.”

Guided by the California State University Chancellor’s Office and local health authorities, CSUB will not permit spectators at the games for the safety of players, coaches and staff.

CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny, who sits on the Big West Conference Board of Directors, welcomed the emphasis on safety.

“I am so pleased for our scholar-athletes and all the fans of Roadrunner basketball that we will resume competition – and in a new conference,” said President Zelezny. “It has been a time of uncertainty as we chart a new course forward, but we are now able to start a new day in a new way. I feel confident that every decision made by the Big West and CSUB has put the safety of our scholar-athletes and all others ahead of any other consideration.”

The traditional home-and-home round-robin schedule has been altered so that teams will instead play the same opponent on consecutive days at one site, with most games taking place on Friday and Saturday.

Each team will contest the schedule over an 11-week period with one bye week built in. Games will not be rescheduled should a team need to quarantine during the season.

The schedules mirror one another, with the men’s and women’s teams playing the same opponent at opposite venues. Conference play will commence with back-to-back games on Sunday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Dec. 28.

“We are ecstatic about the huge step forward today’s announcement brings for our scholar-athletes, coaches, and staff,” said Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried, CSUB’s director of athletics. “We are so thankful for the careful thought and planning put into this schedule by Commissioner Butterly, President Zelezny, and her fellow members of the Big West Board of Directors. We can’t wait to see our `Runners playing games again and we will continue to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.”

The NCAA recently announced that Wednesday, Nov. 25, is the official start date for the 2020-21 basketball season. The `Runner basketball teams are optimistically planning to compete in limited non-conference games prior to the Dec. 27 Big West opener. CSUB’s full, finalized basketball schedules, contingent on local and state health restrictions, will be released in the coming weeks.

Though spectators will not be permitted at the Icardo Center, fans will be able to follow the action via live broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks.