1 vs. 2 clash postponed
INDIANAPOLIS — Coaches Scott Drewof Baylor and Mark Few of Gonzaga scheduled Saturday’s game for all the right reasons.
Theywanted their teams to have another early-season test and play in front of a national TV audience. The game on CBS between the nation’s top two college basketball teams figured to draw excellent ratings.
For now, No. 1vs. No. 2 is off.
L ess than 90 minutes before tip-off, the teams announced the postponement because of two positive COVID-19 tests in topranked Gonzaga’s program.
In a joint statement, the schools said one player and one nonplayer in the Gonzaga travel party tested positive. The unidentified player didn’t play Wednesday against No. 11West Virginia.
“We’re disappointed to not be able to play one of the most anticipated games of the season, but we are following the advice of public health officials,” the coaches said. “When we decided to play during a pandemic, our priorities were protecting the health and safety of student-athletes and following public health guidelines, and we’re proud of how both programs have held true to those promises.
“There aremuch greater issues in this world than not being able to play a basketball game, so we’re going to continue praying for everyone who has been affected by this pandemic.”
Before heading back to Waco, Drew told reporters on a Zoom call that both programs wanted to play, but it was determined they couldn’t do it safely after consulting with the Indiana State Health Commissioner, theMarion County Public Health Director and both team physicians.
The coaches hope to reschedule the game for later this season. Drew said they’re already discussing possible makeup dates and potential sites, though the more immediate priority was getting home and completing finals.
“We’re looking at a bunch of different options, so it’s probably too early to say we’ve targeted in on something,” Drew said. “I think a neutral site would be how both of us would still prefer it. But at the same timewewant to make it happen. So whatever has to happen we’ll do.”
And whenever they do play, Drewknows one thing — people will be watching.
“We knewitwas going to be one of only three meetings with two No. 1s,” Drew said, referring to the fact that the AP poll had Gonzaga No. 1 and the coaches’ poll had Baylor in the top spot. “We were hoping the coaches knew more than the media. If both of us are still ranked there when we do play, it will only mean we’ve both had good years and it will be even bigger.”