Huskies on COVID-19 pause — again

Scheduled Big East opener postponed

The UConn men’s basketball is on aCOVID-19 pause for the second time this season, this time postponing the Huskies’ slated first game back in the Big East.

The pause was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Media.

According to the university, the team suspended activities after a member of the program tested positive for COVID-19. Per university protocol, team activities will remain on hold until contact tracing and additional testing is completed, and it is deemed safe by medical professionals to resume.

UConn’s Big East opener, scheduled for Friday, has been postponed. The Huskies are slated to play at Georgetown on Sunday, Dec. 13, and that game hasn’t been postponed or canceled yet.

This is the second time the Huskies have been shut down due to COVID-19. From Nov. 5-19, UConn went on a 14-day quarantine due to a positive test from one of its players. The team opened its season on Nov. 25 with a win over Central Connecticut State.

Since the CDC has since changed its recommended quarantine time from 14 days to either seven (with a negative test) or 10 (with no symptoms), it’s possible UConn could play at Georgtown on Sunday. Different guidelines have been applied at different times throughout college basketball this season. For instance, Gonzaga was allowed to play a preseason tournament game in Florida recently despite two positive tests within its program. On Saturday, however, Gonzaga — the No. 1 team in the nation — had to cancel its bout with No. 2 Baylor due to a COVID-19 issue. The Zags have canceled or postponed their first four games of the season.

The Huskies were supposed to play NC State on Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena, but that game was canceled the night before due to a positive COVID-19 test within the Wolfpack program.

UConn was trying to schedule a final non-conference for Monday (or Tuesday), but that is now a moot point.

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on college basketball, and the Big East has been hit hard lately. DePaul, which has yet to play a game this season, had to cancel its game with Iowa State on Sunday due to COVID-19 issues. Butler’s program has been on pause since Nov. 26.

The UConn women’s basketball team has been on quarantine and is slated to begin practices again on Tuesday.

From Nov. 5-19, UConn went on a 14-day quarantine due to a positive test from one of its players.