NC State’s men’s basketball program is currently on hold because of positive COVID-19 tests. But the Wolfpack isn’t the only team dealing with issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ACC announced Sunday that State’s scheduled ACC opener at Louisville on Wednesday has been postponed because of “positive tests, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing” within the Cardinals’ program.
It is the fourth game coach Kevin Keatts’ team has had either canceled of postponed since last playing on December 3, a 90-59 rout of UMass-Lowell at the Mohegan Sun resort in Uncasville, Connecticut.
That game was played in college basketball’s so-called “Bubbleville.” But despite being in isolation, two members of the Wolfpack’s traveling party tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of a game against UConn the following day.
Since then, State has also lost a home date against Florida Atlantic and its game at Michigan as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
“This was a difficult, but ultimately necessary decision for our program,” Keatts said in a statement announcing the pause in his team’s activities on Dec. 9. “The health and safety of our student-athletes and staff will always come first. After consulting with our medical team, we decided the appropriate measure was to pause all team activities effective immediately.”
There has been no determination on how the State’s ongoing pause in activities will affect future games or when the Louisville game might be made up. The next game on the Wolfpack’s schedule is next Saturday, December 19, against Campbell at PNC Arena.
