POSITIVE TEST SIDELINES IZZO
Tom Izzo has tested positive for COVID-19, relegating the Hall of Fame coach to leading No. 13 Michigan State virtually while he is in isolation for more than a week.
“Although I have some minor symptoms, I remain in good health,” the 65-year-old Izzo said in a statement. “I’ve been extremely diligent for many months now, wearing my mask in public and around the office, while adhering to social distancing guidelines. And while I haven’t identified any area of exposure, what I have determined is that this shows the power of the virus.“
Associate head coach Dwayne Stephens will lead practices while Izzo is in isolation for 10 days.
“Technology will allow me to stay connected with my staff and our players, and I’ll have plenty of time to watch film,“Izzo said. “I’ll listen to our outstanding medical staff, and follow their directions and take all the steps necessary to return as soon as possible.”
The school says Izzo is the only person in the program to test positive for COVID-19 since daily antigen testing began two weeks ago.
Izzo, who has led the Spartans since 1995, won the national championship in 2000 during one of eight Final Four appearances and has won the Big Ten regular-season title nine times and the conference tournament six times.
GONZAGA ON TOP IN FIRST POLL
Just about the only thing Gonzaga has left to accomplish under Mark Few is to win a national championship.
The Zags scratched another first off the list Monday: They will open the season at No. 1.
Despite losing West Coast Conference player of the year Filip Petrusev, the Bulldogs received 28 first-place votes and 1,541 points from a 64-member national media panel. That was just enough to edge Baylor (24 first-place vote) by a single point for the top spot in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 heading toward the delayed Nov. 25 start of the season.
“It’s a great honor to be selected No. 1,” Few said. “We understand that it is more a reflection of what our program has accomplished over the years and we hope to play up to that standard as we start our season.”
Villanova received 11 first-place votes and was third, followed by Virginia with the remaining first-place vote. Iowa was picked fifth behind national player of the year front-runner Luka Garza, its highest preseason ranking in school history.
Then came a wave of bluebloods with Kansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Duke and Kentucky completing the top 10.
The Bulldogs spent four weeks at No. 1 last season before finishing second to the Jayhawks in the final poll, which was taken when the NCAA Tournament was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Petrusev’s choice to play professionally in Serbia and then enter the draft was a blow, but the Bulldogs still have the pieces to win it all. Corey Kispert and Joel Ayayi provide scoring punch and the arrival of potential one-and-done guard Jalen Suggs should steady their backcourt.