Saints end most recent pause
Team hoping to open season on Tuesday vs. Drexel in Philadelphia
The Siena men’s basketball team went back to work on Tuesday, hours after ending their most recent 14-day pause caused by a positive coronavirus test.
A Siena athletics spokesman said the team was due to resume workouts around 11 a.m after exiting quarantine at midnight.
The Saints, who haven’t played a game yet, are scheduled to begin the season at nonleague foe Drexel in Philadelphia next Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Siena was supposed to play Canisius at the Alumni Recreation Center on Friday and Saturday, but those games have been postponed at the direction of the Saints’ medical staff, who said the team needed more time to prepare after two weeks of inactivity.
The Siena-canisius games haven’t been rescheduled yet, though Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference commissioner Rich Ensor texted they ’re “getting closer.”
“Doctor’s orders,” Siena coach Carmen Maciariello tweeted with regard to the postponed Canisius games.
“I believe the Big East has a gentleman’s agreement amongst head coaches at minimum five days before a game is played for the student athlete’s well-being,” he added. “It’s also believed in a perfect world for every day in quarantine a 1:1 ratio ideal but 2:1 (quarantine: practice) will suffice.”
The Saints have had to pause twice. They also shut down from Nov. 13 to Nov. 26 after two positive tests among their Tier 1 personnel, which includes players, coaches and support staff. One of those belonged to MAAC Player of the Year Jalen Pickett.
Without identifying anyone, Siena athletic director John D’argenio said those who tested positive the first time didn’t have to quarantine during the latest pause.