Louisville Men’s Basketball has had a very good start to the 2020-21 season. The Cards are 4-0, with victories over Seton Hall and WKU. However, the ever-present pandemic has loomed over college athletics, casting a pall on the season. The hope was the “Louisville bubble” would provide a safe haven where basketball could be played under relatively safe circumstances. Unfortunately, the bubble has burst.
Tonight, Louisville AD Vince Tyra announced that the men’s basketball program was pausing all team activities indefinitely due to a positive Covid test. No individual was named, but they acknowledged it was a Tier 1 individual. Tier 1 individuals are student-athletes, coaches, team managers, and staff.
The pausing of activities included the cancellation of tomorrow’s scheduled game with UNC Greensboro. The positive test was detected during routine testing today. UofL advised that they will follow all the health and safety protocols put in place by the university and the ACC.
It is unknown how or if this will affect Louisville’s trip to Madison to face the Badgers of Wisconsin in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge. That game is currently scheduled for December 9th.
We here at CSZ wish whoever it is that contracted this terrible affliction a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing our 4-0 Cards return to the court when they are allowed to.
To read the full details, please read UofL’s press release below:
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
UofL Pauses Men’s Basketball Activities, UNCG Game Cancelled
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville men’s basketball team has paused all team-related activities indefinitely due to a positive COVID-19 test and accompanying contact tracing measures among individuals within the program, UofL Vice-President/Director of Athletics Vince Tyra announced on Thursday.
As a result, the Cardinals’ scheduled Friday (Dec. 4) game against UNC Greensboro has been cancelled.
The pause in activities follows a positive test, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing within the Cardinals’ “Tier 1” individuals, which consists of student-athletes, coaches, team managers and staff. The team is adhering to the outlined protocols within the ACC Medical Advisory Group report.
The positive test result was detected during the team’s Thursday’s COVID-19 testing, which is conducted three times per week in accordance with ACC protocols.
“We are adhering to the ACC and university protocols, and will monitor the matter day-to-day,” said Tyra.
Louisville has won its first four games of the season, playing those four at home in the KFC Yum! Center in a seven-day period. The Cardinals’ next two scheduled games are Dec. 9at Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and Dec. 16 against NC State in the KFC Yum! Center. There has been no determination on how the pause in activities will affect future games past the Dec. 4 UNC Greensboro contest.
Also due to issues related to COVID-19, Friday’s scheduled 11 a.m. game between Duquesne and Winthrop has been cancelled.
