The players want to play! Even if they don't play the games the players will still be around people anywhere they are. This isn't more dangerous
The virus appears not to incapacitate young people, which is a blessing. The players will likely be fine. But they'll be carriers if infected, and many of them likely will be at some point. This thing will spread (well, is spreading as we speak) and will likely infect a great many of us within the next several weeks if not sooner. It's particularly dangerous for the middle-aged and older, and spread easily and quickly via crowds. No immunity to it yet as exists with normal flu strains.
It sucks for everyone concerned: fans, players, families. And it sucks for society broadly. Having read about what this does to the lungs if, like mine, they were compromised at some point via even mild asthma as a kid, I don't take this lightly. And I'm a very healthy, robust, 54-year-old guy. Was squatting over 400 last month and deadlifting nearly 500 before I was knocked out for several days with a mild virus. I'm a bit concerned; my medically-trained friends tell me that's wise.
It's only basketball. Let's make sure that we're all around to see the Illini win the conference a year from now. And let's make sure that our opponents' fans are around to shed copious, salty tears when the Illini defeat them.
Finally, after H.S. I played rec ball into my 20s in front of no fans. And on playgrounds. Many of you did, too. Didn't for one moment diminish my competitiveness or fire to win. Can't imagine it will make a dent in the players' this week in Indy and on into the Dance.
IMHO. And ILL-