This weekend’s severe winter storms are causing significant changes in the schedules of various college basketball games and an NBA matchup, impacting an extensive area set to experience extreme weather. Approximately 230 million people across the Northeast, Midwest, and as far south as Texas are bracing for dangerously low temperatures, freezing rain, sleet, and potential power outages.
In the NBA, the game between the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte has been rescheduled to start at noon ET on Saturday, moved up from its original time of 6 p.m. This adjustment reflects the broader trend of numerous college basketball games also being shifted due to the anticipated conditions.
In men’s college basketball, three Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) games have been rescheduled to kick off earlier. Wake Forest will now face Duke at noon, while North Carolina is set to play Virginia at the same time. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech’s game against Louisville is now slated for 2:15 p.m. ET. In the Big East, St. John’s matchup against Xavier has been adjusted to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. Furthermore, Middle Tennessee State and Jacksonville State opted to play on Friday evening instead of Saturday, and games such as Towson at North Carolina A&T and Texas State at James Madison have also been rescheduled for earlier start times.
In women’s college basketball, top-ranked UConn’s game against Seton Hall has been moved from Sunday to Saturday at noon ET. Additionally, No. 14 Baylor’s home game against Houston will now occur on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, shifting from its original Sunday schedule. George Mason’s matchup with Richmond has also been moved forward by three hours to 11 a.m. ET, although no fans will be allowed to attend the game. Notably, North Carolina Central has postponed several games across both its men’s and women’s basketball schedules during this time.
In a related development, the Texas Rangers have canceled their Saturday Fan Fest due to safety concerns stemming from the inclement weather.
However, there are no alterations to the NFL’s conference championship games this weekend, as the severe weather is expected to primarily affect areas east of the Rocky Mountains. The AFC championship game in Denver is forecasted to see a high of 23 degrees with potential light snow flurries, while the NFC championship in Seattle is predicted to have a milder high of 44 degrees with clear conditions expected.
As communities brace for the winter storms, the swift action taken by sports organizations emphasizes the importance of prioritizing safety. Fans and players alike are reminded to stay informed and prepared as they navigate through the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions this weekend.