N.C.A.A.’s Fear of a Canceled Tournament Game Arrives
After Georgia Tech, which was without Moses Wright, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, was sent home on Friday by Loyola-Chicago, Kansas was in danger of suffering the same fate before it rallied to stave off 14th-seeded Eastern Washington.
The Jayhawks were without forward Jalen Wilson, their leading rebounder, and reserve Tristan Enaruna. And their center David McCormack, the Big 12 defensive player of the year, arrived in Indianapolis on Friday after he tested positive 10 days earlier — a result that led Kansas to drop out of its conference tournament.
On Saturday night, eighth-seeded Oklahoma had to contend with Missouri without De’Vion Harmon, its second-leading scorer. And Virginia, which flew to Indianapolis after a week under quarantine, wasn’t even certain it would be able to play until hours before its game against 13th-seeded Ohio.
“It’s been a high anxiety thing,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said, adding that he has been up late at night awaiting daily test results. “Here, I’m getting texts from the doc and the trainer at 2 a.m. when the results come back and I’m awake ready to take the texts.”
The virus may not only threaten the championship aspirations of all teams, it may raise questions about the legitimacy of the tournament winner. Top-seeded Gonzaga, which is trying to become the first undefeated champion since Indiana in 1976, may have its path to the Final Four through the West eased with third-seeded Kansas and fourth-seeded Virginia, the reigning champion, compromised by the virus.
All teams, of course, have been trying to keep the virus at bay. Ironically, teams that have been fortunate or vigilant — or both — have in recent weeks been paying a price for their success. Duke, which dropped out of the A.C.C. tournament — ending its hopes of winning its way into the N.C.A.A. tournament — did so after its first positive test of the season. Other teams, like Iona, which has had 10 players and two coaches (including Rick Pitino) contract the virus in the last three months have had fewer worries.
V.C.U. had been able to play 26 games without interruption.
“I hate to say this — I don’t think pauses are good, but they may be blessings in disguise that the pauses occur to better ensure you have a healthy N.C.A.A. tournament,” Self said.
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