COVID knocks VCU out of tourney
VCU was pulled from the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Indianapolis after what the school said were “multiple” positive COVID-19 tests within the last two days, ending the Rams’ run in college basketball’s annual showcase before it began.
Last year’s entire tournament was called off because of the pandemic, and the NCAA moved this year’s event to Indiana and put teams in what it called a “controlled environment.” But those steps weren’t enough to ensure every game would be played.
The 10th-seeded Rams’ first-round game against Oregon was declared a no-contest, the NCAA said, sending the seventh-seeded Ducks into the second round without playing.
“We’ve been tested every day for the past three weeks, but within the past 48 hours we’ve received multiple positive tests,” VCU coach Mike Rhoades said. “We are devastated for our players and coaches. It has been a dream for all of us to play in the NCAA Tournament.”
The announcement from the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee came three hours before the teams were set to play in the West Region. It didn’t offer specific details, citing privacy concerns, and said that the decision came after consultation with the Marion County Public Health Department.
Ohio 62, Virginia 58
The Cavaliers’ unusual title defense ended with another upset loss in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Jason Preston and the Bobcats in Bloomington, Indiana.
Some familiar problems showed up again for fourth-seeded Virginia (18-7), which struggled to score during a key stretch in the second half and shot 35% for the game. It became the first No. 1 seed to drop its opening game in the NCAA Tournament when it lost to UMBC in 2018, but it used the setback as motivation in its run to the championship in 2019.
Preston and Ben Vander Plas delivered for 13th-seeded Ohio (17-7). Vander Plas scored eight of his 17 points during an 18-4 secondhalf surge that erased a 38-31 deficit. Ohio never trailed again. Preston finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Michigan 82, Texas Southern 66
Mike Smith scored 18 points and Hunter Dickinson 16 as the top-seeded Wolverines (21-4) rolled over the 16th-seeded Tigers (17-9) in West Lafayette, Indiana, without Isaiah Livers, who is out with a foot injury. Eli Brooks and Brandon Johns Jr. had 11 points apiece.
Meanwhile Livers wore a shirt with
#NotNCAAProperty written on it. The hashtag is part of a social-media effort to raise awareness about inequities in college sports. Livers is one of a few prominent Big Ten players leading the movement.
Iowa 86, Grand Canyon 74
The second-seeded Hawkeyes (22-8) got 24 points from Luka Garza and avoided the early NCAA Tournament exit that befell other high seeds with a victory over the 15thseeded Antelopes (17-7) in Indianapolis.
Iowa shot the Antelopes and their boisterous fans back to the desert, hitting 54% from the floor while going 10-for-22 from behind
the arc. Joe Wieskamp added 16 points to help lead the Hawkeyes into the next round.
Maryland 63, UConn 54
Eric Ayala scored 23 points and the 10thseeded Terrapins (17-13) clamped down on defense down the stretch to top the seventh-seeded Huskies (15-8) in West Lafayette, Indiana. Maryland held UConn to 32% shooting to overcome a 40-29 disadvantage on the boards.
UCLA 73, BYU 62
Johnny Juzang’s hot hand helped the 11thseeded Bruins (19-19) upset the sixth-seeded
Cougars (20-7) in Indianapolis. Juzang scored 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting.
Buckeyes react to threats to Liddell
Ohio State officials have reached out to police about threatening and insulting social-media messages sophomore E.J. Liddell received after the Buckeyes’ NCAA Tournament loss Friday. Associate athletic director for communications Dan Wallenberg said he contacted police Saturday morning about the threats after the second-seeded Buckeyes were upset by No. 15 seed Oral Roberts 75-72 in overtime.