The NC State basketball team traveled to Uncasville, Connecticut, this week to play two games in the safety of college basketball’s “Bubbleville.”
But not even the isolation at the Mohegan Sun resort was enough to protect the Wolfpack from the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite having spent several days in the controlled environment and already playing a game there, a member of the Wolfpack’s traveling party has still tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of Saturday’s scheduled game there against UConn.
According to a statement announcing the cancellation, coach Kevin Keatts’ team learned of the positive test late Friday evening.
All members of State’s traveling party provided negative test results before traveling to Connecticut. They were then administered a PCR test immediately upon their arrival at Mohegan Sun, again receiving a clean bill of health before a 90-59 rout of UMass-Lowell on Thursday.
“As far as the bubble, we got here and we quarantined,” Keatts said after the UMass-Lowell game. “They’ve done a great job. In order for us to play basketball, the best situation for us is to be in a bubble. After getting here and being isolated and it’s more just you and your team, I think that’s a great thing. We’ve had to adjust to something that’s a little different, but everything in 2020 is a little different.”
The Wolfpack was tested again Friday morning, 24 hours before its next scheduled game, in accordance with NCAA protocols. The game against UConn was canceled as soon as the positive test was identified.
State is next scheduled to play at Michigan as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday. The status of that and any future games will be determined once the team returns to Raleigh.
