San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
VCU exits tournament for COVID reasons.
VCU was kicked out of the NCAA Tournament hours before its first-round game Saturday because multiple players tested positive for COVID-19, an outbreak that imperiled the 68-team event and underscored, once again, the delicate nature of staging such a spectacle amid a pandemic a year after it was canceled entirely.
The NCAA announced the cancellation — officially declaring a “no contest” — about three hours before the No. 10 seed Rams were scheduled to tip off against No. 7 seed Oregon in the West Region.
VCU’S players got the news after they had finished their pregame meal.
“It was devastating. It was heartbreaking. No dry eyes. This is what you dream of as a college player and a coach. To get it taken away like this, it’s just a heartbreaking moment in their young lives,” VCU coach Mike Rhoades said. “It just stinks. There’s no way I can sugarcoat it.”
VCU Athletic Director Ed Mclaughlin declined to say which players tested positive, citing privacy concerns. There were multiple positive tests over two days, which is why the Rams had to forfeit, while other schools were able to play first-round games after a single COVID-19 case.
Oklahoma, for example, was in action Saturday despite guard De’vion Harmon’s positive test. Georgia Tech lost to Loyola Chicago on Friday after ACC player of the year Moses Wright tested positive.
No. 1 Gonzaga 98, Norfolk State 55: Corey Kispert scored 15 of his 23 points by halftime and Gonzaga rolled past Norfolk State (17-8).
Anton Watson had 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting for the Bulldogs (27-0), who shook off a slow few opening minutes and easily handled the Spartans.
Next up for the undefeated Zags is Oklahoma.
No. 2 Iowa 86, Grand Canyon 74: Iowa got 24 points from Luka Garza and avoided the early NCAA Tournament exit that befell other high seeds, beating Grand Canyon (17-7).
The Hawkeyes (22-8) used a strong shooting display to advance.
Iowa shot the Antelopes and their boisterous fans back to the desert, hitting 54 percent from the floor while going 10 of 22 from behind the arc.
Iowa plays Oregon next. No. 3 Kansas 93, Eastern Washington 84: David Mccormack returned from his Covid-19-caused hiatus just in time to rescue Kansas, piling up 22 points and nine rebounds as the slow-starting Jayhawks (21-8) rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat Eastern Washington (16-8).
Tanner Groves scored a career-high 35 points and younger brother Jacob Groves had 23 for the Eagles.
No. 13 Ohio 62, No. 4 Virginia 58: Virginia’s unusual title defense ended with another upset loss in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Jason Preston and Ohio.
Some familiar problems showed up again for the Cavaliers (18-7), who struggled to score during a key stretch in the second half.
Preston and Ben Vander Plas delivered for Ohio (17-7). Vander Plas scored eight of his game-high 17 points during an 18-4 second-half run that erased a 38-31 deficit and gave the Bobcats a 49-42 lead.
No 5. Creighton 63, No. 12 UC Santa Barbara 62: Christian Bishop made both ends of a one-and-one with 16 seconds left to give Creighton the lead, and the Bluejays (21-8) hung on to beat UC Santa Barbara (22-5).
Bishop was fouled by Amadou Sow on the floor after grabbing an offensive rebound and went to the line with the Gauchos up 62-61.
The junior came into the game making 57 percent from the line, but dropped in both, barely touching the rim.
No. 6 USC 72, Drake 56: Evan Mobley had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and USC (23-7) used smothering defense to beat Drake (26-5).
Mobley made 7 of 15 field goals and blocked three shots. Isaiah Mobley scored 15 points and Drew Peterson added 14 for USC, which advanced to play No. 3 seed Kansas in the second round on Monday.
No. 8 Oklahoma 72, No. 9 Missouri 68: Austin Reaves scored 23 points, Brady Manek added 19 and Oklahoma (16-10) slipped by Missouri (16-10).
The Sooners pulled out to an eight-point lead with 1:08 left behind Reaves’ freethrow shooting, but Dru Smith made two 3-pointers in the final minute to keep the pressure on and pull Missouri within 70-67 with 46.7 left.