News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech will open its basketball season at Indiana on November 25.
The 27-game schedule released Thursday includes a November 30 home opener against Chattanooga.
Athletic Director Mark Wilson said TTU plans to test its male and female basketball players on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, however that could change based on scheduled games. Wilson said when the school goes on the road, testing will vary based on the opposing conference’s rules.
“In Indiana the final tests that we need with the Big 10 conference, Indiana is covering the costs of those tests,” Wilson said. “The other tests that are required by the South Eastern Conference, we have plenty of availability of those right here in our community, so there’s really no additional cost on that.”
Wilson said the NCAA has laid out its COVID protocols and testing regiments. Also, he said that the OVC’s athletic directors have agreed on the number of players who need to be available to play.
“We have not announced that yet because there’s still a part of that document that has not been finalized,” Wilson said. “We as directors of athletics have come to an agreement on what that would look like.”
When TTU comes home to play, face masks and social distancing will be required. That is based on guidelines created with the help of the Putnam County Health Department.
However, the school is still finalizing capacity at Hooper Eblen Center.
“We don’t have a formal capacity yet, because we are just in the process of re-seating all of our season ticket holders,” Wilson said. “Touching base with our ticket holders and explaining to them how we’re gonna move their seats and to make sure they still want their tickets.
Wilson said he believes the schedule this year has secured a balance of non-conference rivals and guarantee games which provide financial support for TTU Athletics. Wilson said TTU will need to play in 13 games to be able to qualify for the postseason.
