MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — The hiatus for the 13th-ranked West Virginia men’s basketball team will stretch for at least one week due to COVID-19 protocols.
The Big 12 Conference announced Tuesday that the Mountaineers’ next two games — at home against TCU on Jan. 16 and against Oklahoma State on Jan. 19 — have been postponed in response to WVU being unable to meet the required COVID-19 thresholds set forth by the league.
The Big 12 had already postponed the Mountaineers’ game against second-ranked Baylor that was scheduled for Tuesday night.
According to the Big 12’s COVID-19 regulations, a team must have at least six scholarship players available in order to compete.
The Mountaineers began the season with 13 players on scholarship, but saw Oscar Tshiebwe transfer to Kentucky last week and forward Isaiah Cottrell was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon on Dec. 29.
Of the remaining 11 scholarship players, WVU had at least six either test positive for the coronavirus or are quarantined due to contact tracing.
The school did confirm that players who had tested negative and were not part of contact tracing would continue to practice with coaches and be permitted to work out at school facilities.
The Big 12 will not decide how long WVU (9-4, 2-3 Big 12) is out of action.
The conference told The Dominion Post on Tuesday, “Protocols are established by the CDC guidelines and local/state ordinances.”
According to the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources’ website, any person in this state who tests positive for COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days.
WVU head coach Bob Huggins said players were tested Monday, which is when the school announced it could not meet the Big 12’s requirements to compete.
Under the 10-day guideline, it may be possible for the Mountaineers to resume action on Jan. 23, when they are scheduled to travel to Kansas State.
As to when the games could be rescheduled, there is an open week between the end of the regular season, on Feb. 27, and the start of the Big 12 tournament on March 10. It’s possible some games could be played during that window.
WVU is working with the Big 12 to reschedule the three games.
TWEET @bigjax3211
