What Is Life Like In NCAA Bubble? Gonzaga, Kansas Weigh In
Never forget that NCAA basketball players are college kids, so they can be counted on to do college-kid stuff. That is especially true of the college kids playing in the NCAA Tournament, who are stationed inside their own separate "bubbles" in and around Indianapolis.
How do college kids approach life in isolation? Yeah, you guessed it.
"Playing video games, watching TV," Kansas sophomore guard Christian Braun told the Kansas City Star.
But hey, it's not all about technology all the time, even for the current generation of college athletes. Just ask the undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs, the tourney's No. 1 overall seed.
“There was a roaring game of Catan going on (Tuesday) night,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few told reporters. “That’s a (Corey) Kispert, Joel (Ayayi) kind of (board) game. It gets pretty competitive. Just to let you in on a little secret, they were taken down by trainer Josh Therrien in a little bit of an upset.”
Of course, it's not all fun and games. It's also a whole lot of quiet time.
“It’s pretty strict here for sure,” Gonzaga junior guard Andrew Nembhard said. “There’s not really interactions with other teams. Just kind of ourselves and trying stay distanced with masks on and having our time when we can come together and do certain activities.”
Soon, there will be games, and as a result, some teams will have to go home. Life in the bubble will be short. But those who are staying a little longer will have to keep doing what they're doing now -- and finding ways to remain college kids.