COVID-19 causes Gophers to cancel game with No. 18 Wisconsin
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota is calling off its scheduled game Saturday at Wisconsin due to positive COVID-19 cases within its program, a move that likely knocks the 18th-ranked Badgers out of consideration for the Big Ten championship game.
Utah’s game with Arizona State scheduled for Sunday also was canceled because the Sun Devils still don’t have enough scholarship players after having numerous positive COVID-19 cases, including coach Herm Edwards. No. 24 Tulsa’s game Saturday against Houston also
was postponed because of Houston’s COVID-19 issues.
The UAB-Southern Mississippi football game scheduled for Friday has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the Golden Eagles’ program.
A total of 10 scheduled games this week involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams have been postponed or canceled.
The Minnesota-Wisconsin game and the Utah-Arizona State game won’t be rescheduled. Tulsa and Houston have no common open dates left and will only be able to make up the game if neither is in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 19.
Sports minister: Australian Open “most likely” to be delayed
MELBOURNE, Australia — The sports minister for Victoria state says the 2021 Australian Open in Melbourne will “most likely” be delayed by a week or two from its scheduled start of Jan. 18.
Martin Pakula also said negotiations between various levels of governments and tennis officials were close to a conclusion and that the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year was expected to go ahead.
“There’s a number of potential dates on the table. I’ve seen reports that suggest that it’s likely to be delayed by a week or two. I think that’s still most likely,” Pakula said Wednesday. “But it’s not the only option. As you know, the French Open was delayed by many months and Wimbledon didn’t occur at all.
“I still think it’s much more likely that it will be a shorter rather than longer delay. I don’t want to unduly repeat myself but these are very complex negotiations.”
Australian Open tournament director and Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley last weekend said the final dates should be confirmed within two weeks. The Australian Open is usually held in the last two weeks of January, which coincides with summer school holidays in Australia.
Seattle Sounders player tests positive for virus
The Seattle Sounders say a member of the club’s firstteam roster has tested positive for COVID-19, but the team says all other players and staff have returned multiple negative tests and are without symptoms.
The team says the infected player was not a close contact of other members of Seattle’s roster or coaching staff, and the team’s medical personnel has determined the risk to the overall team has been managed. The Sounders say they have also determined this case is unrelated to a positive coronavirus case involving a member of the team’s support staff from a couple weeks ago.
The Sounders are scheduled to play Los Angeles FC in the first-round of the MLS playoffs on Tuesday night. Ravens will conduct team
activities virtually
The Baltimore Ravens will conduct all team activities virtually with time running out before their scheduled matchup against unbeaten Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night.
Running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins, along with defensive tackle Brandon Williams, were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.
In a statement Tuesday morning, the team said the on-field practice session was canceled “with the health and safety of players and staff remaining the highest priority.”
Agents: Ingram agrees to max deal extension with Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS — Restricted free agent Brandon Ingram has agreed to a five-year, $158 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ingram’s agents, Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports Management, confirmed the deal on Tuesday to The Associated Press.
Ingram is the NBA’s reigning most improved player after averaging a team-high 23.8 points in his first season with the Pelicans.
The 23-year-old Ingram, a 2016 second overall draft choice by the Los Angeles Lakers, was dealt to New Orleans during the 2019 offseason as part of a blockbuster trade that sent perennial All-Star Anthony Davis to the Lakers. New Orleans also received guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, as well as multiple draft picks in that deal.
The 6-foot-7 Ingram this season developed into an effective and reliable scorer from the perimeter as well as on dribble drives. He shot a career best 39.1% from 3-point range but also routinely finished above the rim in the free-flowing, up-tempo offense the Pelicans ran last season under previous coach Alvin Gentry.
UConn says positive test wasn’t from a player or a coach
STORRS, Conn. — UConn coach Geno Auriemma says he’s been trying to convince his team that despite having the start of its season postponed for an additional two weeks because of a positive coronavirus test, everything is going to be just fine.
“I’m sure there was a guy on the Titanic who was in charge of saying that,” Auriemma said Tuesday. “I just hope I’m not that guy.”
The Husky players are in quarantine for 14 days after someone in the program — not a player or a coach, according to Auriemma — tested positive on Monday for the novel coronavirus. The coaches are not isolating themselves because they did not have contact with the infected person, Auriemma said.
The positive test led to the third-ranked Huskies canceling their first four games and the subsequent cancellation of the entire Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge, the event that was to kick off their season on Saturday. That tournament was to feature UConn and No. 6 Mississippi State.