W&M back on the court after quarantine
But game set for Sunday against U.Va. postponed again, on Cavs’ behalf
William & Mary’s men’s basketball team got back onto the court for practice on Tuesday for the first time since quarantining in the wake of a positive COVID-19 test on Nov. 29.
When the Tribe next gets onto the court for a game is uncertain.
The Tribe (0-1) was scheduled to return to action on Sunday at No. 18 Virginia in Charlottesville. But the status of that game, moved from Saturday, is unknown because of a positive coronavirus test in Virginia’s program.
Virginia’s highly anticipated game with No. 4 Michigan State on Wednesday was postponed as a result. That prompted Tribe coach Dane Fischer to acknowledge he’s unsure whether the game with Virginia will be played as scheduled.
“We’re still awaiting word with them,” he said Wednesday morning. “Our medical team is going to reach out to their medical team and just basically talk through what are the options for this.
“Once they have those conversations, I’ll have a better idea.”
Should the game not be played, Fischer said the Tribe might try to schedule someone else for Saturday or Sunday. Like the multiple changes made to the nonconference schedule — along with the complete overhaul of the Colonial Athletic Association schedule announced in October — this is new territory for the program.
“It’s certainly unique,” Fischer said. “If the Virginia game doesn’t take place, we’ll try to find a game that makes sense and try to get it on the schedule.
“We’re all in the same boat, trying to find games that make sense.”
If the Tribe can’t play Virginia or find a replacement, it will return to action at Hampton on Dec. 16 and play its first home game on Dec. 19 against High Point. Fischer said both games are on as scheduled.
The Tribe’s return from quarantine after eight days, rather than 14, was because of a change in the Center for Disease Control’s regulations combined with no further positive tests in the program. Since learning of the positive test to someone asymptomatic within the Tier 1 group (players, coaches, trainers and managers), personnel were tested on Dec. 4 and Dec. 6 and all were negative.
The Virginia Department of Health cleared the Tribe’s return to team activities. Tuesday’s practice was the Tribe’s first time back on the court since an 86-78 loss on Nov. 28 at Old Dominion.
“The kids are in a good place and had a great approach (to the quarantine), understanding what was required of us,” Fischer said, adding that the quarantine had the positive effect of reaffirming how careful everyone must be. “The feeling was like stepping on the practice court for the first time, with the renewed energy.”
That energy level will be multiplied upon the Tribe’s return to the court for a game. Whenever that is.
“Someone asked me after our game with Old Dominion, ‘Is it a little more special when you get to go and play a game right now, because you don’t just know when it will be taken away?’” Fischer recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘Yeah, it absolutely is,’ and of course the next day we found out it is taken away from us.
“I do think there’s a little more appreciation for what a unique opportunity it is to be a part of a Division I basketball program, and to play and compete at this level. Because, again, it gets taken away just like that for your team, so you realize just how much you miss it pretty quickly.”