The Butler Bulldogs mascot Trip is not attending the Big East Tournament this weekend.
The Butler Bulldogs mascot Trip is not attending the Big East Tournament this weekend in New York City due to the coronavirus strain COVID-19.
All games at Madison Square Garden are being played with a minimum of spectators.
Trip, a elderly Bulldog, is retiring after this season and passing the reins over to Blue IV, who can be followed on Twitter at the handle @TheButlerBlue.
This news was previously announced earlier in the week.
For more on how the coronavirus has impacted the world of college basketball, see this excellent wrap-up by our FanSided Network sister site Busting Brackets.
A partial listing of the events cancelled (as of this writing) throughout the sports world include the the American, Atlantic 10, Big 12, Big Ten, Ivy League, SEC, Southland and Pac-12 conference tournaments, the Seattle Supercross race this weekend, a postponement of next week’s NASCAR race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the suspension of the NBA and MLS regular seasons.
If the NCAA Tournament takes place (for now it’s still on as scheduled), then it will be played without fans.
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs can catch some types of coronavirus, but the COVID-19 strain does not affect them. Still, to be safe they recommend washing your hands after petting a dog that may carry germs on its coat, and wiping the paws of inside dogs after they go outside.
For more information about the coronavirus, see the websites of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to face the Providence Friars in the first round at 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon.
Butler went 10-8 in conference play during the regular season and 22-8 overall.
The women’s team went 11-7 in conference and 19-11 overall during the regular season before losing to Seton Hall in the first round of their conference tournament.