OSU left in holding pattern
Frustration mounts as COVID cancels games
With the Ohio State men’s basketball team staring down an extended break for finals, coach Chris Holtmann enjoyed some levity following an 18point win on Dec. 11.
At 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten after a 73-55 win against No. 22 Wisconsin on that Saturday, the Buckeyes had a full week for exams before a scheduled date with Kentucky as part of the Cbssports Classic in Las Vegas. Immediately after beating the Badgers, Holtmann said he planned to enjoy a little mental health break and “a couple cold beverages for sure.”
Five days later, hours before a scheduled departure for Las Vegas, Holtmann told reporters he had enjoyed “every last drop” of those beverages. It was a final moment of levity before what has morphed into a fullon program pause after one positive COVID-19 case has now necessitated the cancellation of two games.
The Kentucky game was canceled after more players tested positive and the Buckeyes realized that any players who would test positive while in Las Vegas would have had to isolate there for 10 days. After another round of testing Sunday revealed more positives, a game Tuesday against Tennessee-martin was canceled.
The Buckeyes are scheduled to host New Orleans on Dec. 28, giving them a 17-day span without games.
Ohio State's current situation began early in the week when a staff member and player presented with some light symptoms and were tested for COVID-19, Holtmann said Monday on his weekly radio show.
“We were waiting on their test results,” Holtmann said. “We get into practice, we had another player who had some symptoms and we end up getting him tested but they took a little time. Those tests came back all positive, so as we continued to prepare to leave for Vegas we had another positive.”
That led to testing every Tier 1 member of the program, which revealed more positive tests.
“Had it been a home game, potentially we would've continued on and if guys had symptoms we might've tested them,” Holtmann said. “The fact that we were traveling to Las Vegas, if someone had symptoms there they would've had to stay there for 10 days. Ultimately the decision was made, let's test everybody on Thursday morning, let's expedite the results and figure out where to go from there. We popped up additional tests and we just weren't able to field enough guys to play in a game like that.”
The Buckeyes have shown limited symptoms.
“All of them have light symptoms,”
Holtmann said. “I don't want to minimize them. Some had a fever for a day. Some didn't have any symptoms. Our program is fully vaccinated.”
Holtmann did not want to give too much information on how many players are needed in order to play a game.
“Last year we threw out the number of eight (needed),” he said. “I'm trying to be somewhat general with our numbers. I want to protect our players. In the past that was eight and that would include a walk-on. Bottom line is it was going to be a challenge (to play Kentucky).”
Holtmann said there has been frustration that vaccinated, asymptomatic players have been ruled out of action.
“It wasn't their fault,” Holtmann said. “They did everything they were supposed to do. We followed all the protocols.
“I did have that conversation. Now as we've had more positives, several of our guys have little to no symptoms. The ones that did have symptoms for a couple days don't have symptoms on that third or fourth day. I did have that conversation with our medical staff.
“Ultimately that decision for college athletes is going to be made by the medical personnel maybe at each institution but certainly league-wide it's going to be made by a board of medical professionals.”
Holtmann said he spoke with Kentucky coach John Calipari on Sunday night. The Wildcats had their game against Louisville for Wednesday canceled, and Calipari wanted to see if the Buckeyes would have enough guys to play.
If so, he was ready to agree to a homeand-home series.
“He talked to me about playing on Wednesday there and then returning the game next year,” Holtmann said. “We just couldn't do it. Just numberswise, but I tried like crazy. I was throwing out after-christmas dates.”