Two hours before it was scheduled to tipoff, Monday’s game between Miami and North Carolina in Chapel Hill was postponed.
The official statement from the ACC did little to shed light on the reason behind the late decision.
“The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that the Miami at North Carolina men’s basketball game will be postponed. The game was originally scheduled to be played today, Monday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
“The postponement follows a meeting of personnel from both schools, who mutually concluded the game could not move forward today.”
Neither coach released a statement in the immediate aftermath of the announcement.
“We are disappointed that tonight’s game against Miami is postponed and hope that every effort will be made to reschedule the game,” UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement released by the school.
According to multiple media reports, the reason for the postponement was that Miami was uncomfortable playing the game due to potential COVID-19 exposure by UNC players.
Following the Tar Heels’ win over Duke on Saturday night, at least two players — Day’Ron Sharpe and Armando Bacot — allegedly attended a party with at least seven other people in attendance. Snapchat video of the event, which was obtained and posted by The Daily Tar Heel, showed Sharpe and Bacot with the other people in an environment that was not socially distanced. No one, including the two players, was wearing a mask in the 11-second clip.
UNC chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz had earlier scolded students for rushing Franklin Street following the game, saying “COVID doesn’t take a break for the Duke game” and vowing to “pursue consequences” for anyone who violated protocols.
