USD HITS THE BRAKES FOR SECOND TIME
USD paused its men’s basketball program for the second time this season on Sunday because of what the university said was a “COVID-19 related concern within the USD program.”
Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis would not say if the “related concern” pertained to a positive COVID-19 test.
USD was scheduled to face Arizona in Tucson today, but the game was canceled.
McGillis would not say how long the program will be paused but said the Toreros will not play another game before the scheduled West Coast Conference opener on Dec. 31 at USF.
USD paused the men’s season for 14 days on Nov. 20 because of a positive COVID-19 test in the program. Most college teams paused their programs for 14 days after positive tests. If USD paused for 14 days again, it would put the opening two WCC games against USF and BYU in jeopardy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended lowering the quarantine period to 10 days, which would give USD a window to play USF and BYU.
The Toreros are 1-3, having last played on Saturday, an 8553 loss to UC Irvine. The team will go 12 days between games if the scheduled WCC opener at USF is played.
USD has lost five games in its nonconference schedule because of COVID-related issues.
McGillis said he expects the basketball schedule will be impacted again this season.
“The coming weeks are likely to bring the same kind of uncertainty,” he said. “I just do not expect that to change during the basketball season. ... We are not alone. Nearly every team in our conference has had games canceled or postponed.
“It’s a great test of resiliency.”
USD, Gonzaga and Pacific have played four games, the fewest in the WCC. Gonzaga has five games scheduled before opening conference play.
USF, which beat Grand Canyon 68-65 at the Far West Classic on Sunday in Las Vegas, has played 10 games, the most in the conference.
Saint Mary’s and BYU have played nine.
DON NORCROSS
AP Top 25
Northwestern 79, No. 4 Michigan State 65: Boo Buie scored a career-high 30 points and host Northwestern (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) beat Michigan State (6-1, 0-1) for the first time in almost a decade.
No. 6 Houston 88, Alcorn State 55: Quentin Grimes had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Reggie Chaney added 18 points and six rebounds and host Houston (5-0) overcame the absence of several key players to rout Alcorn State (0-2).
No. 9 Creighton 76, UConn 74 (OT): Christian Bishop scored 19 points and visiting Creighton (6-2, 2-1) had a 9-0 run in overtime to beat UConn (3-1) in the Huskies’ first Big East game since March 2013.
No. 11 Texas 77, Oklahoma State 74: Freshman Greg Brown had 24 points and 14 rebounds to help host Texas (7-1) beat Oklahoma (6-2, 0-2) in the Longhorns’ Big 12 opener.
No. 19 Rutgers 91, No. 13 Illinois 88: Ron Harper Jr. scored 28 points, Jacob Young added 24 and Rutgers (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) overcame a doubledigit, first-half deficit to beat visiting Illinois (5-3, 1-1).