Spencer Parlier | NCAA.com | August 14, 2020 NCAA's Dan Gavitt: We'll deliver a March Madness tournament in 2021 Dan Gavitt: We'll deliver a March Madness tournament in 2021 Share NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt offered a dose of optimism to college basketball fans everywhere Wednesday afternoon when he assured that a March Madness tournament will happen in 2021. "We’ll be flexible. We’ll be nimble and we’ll deliver what the country is desperately looking for again and that’s just an incredible March Madness tournament in 2021," Gavitt told Andy Katz on a call. LATEST UPDATES: Keep up with all things college sports amidst the COVID-19 pandemic Gavitt's assertion comes after the Pac-12 postponed all collegiate sports until Jan. 1, 2021, on Tuesday. The Big Ten also announced they would be postponing fall sports to 2021 for potential competition in the spring. NCAA Tournament Selection Committee Chair Mitch Barnhart and NABC's Craig Robinson were also on the call. Barnhart stressed that there is a hunger for collegiate sports, not only from fans but also among student-athletes. "The absence of March Madness was absolutely difficult for our country. We can laugh — we can talk about how it really shouldn't be that way, but the reality was that it is something we all rally around," Barnhart said. “We will absolutely do all we can do — whatever assets, whatever resources, whatever it takes — to try and give our young people the chance to play the game they love.” Outside of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the health and safety of student-athletes across the country, logistics offer another challenge for March Madness decision-makers. WHAT ABOUT FOOTBALL?: Track the latest updates for the fall FBS season here Inclusivity and flexibility will have to be top priorities for everyone, from fans to school administrators to media members when it comes to the production of a 2021 tournament, according to Gavitt. "Our first and primary goal and preference is to have the tournament on the dates that are set, at the venues that are pre-determined, but if the virus necessitates a different path, we will adjust accordingly," Gavitt said. "The health and safety of the players and the coaches and all the people around the game — the referees and fans will be primary." Watch the full interview below. NCAA SVP Dan Gavitt breaks down 2021 March Madness plans, college basketball bubble viability DIII men's basketball star has faith untraditional path leads to the pros Though he had offers to play Division I ball, Ryan Turell chose to play in Division III at Yeshiva, a private Jewish school in New York City where he developed a close bond with his coaches and teammates. READ MORE These are the top 12 undrafted rookies to watch in NBA Summer League Andy Katz reveals his top 12 undrafted rookies to watch in NBA Summer League prior to the start of the Summer League on July 7. READ MORE These college basketball teams and conferences have the most NBA first-round draft picks Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke are the college basketball teams with the most first-round picks in NBA draft history. READ MORE