Huskies’ game at DePaul canceled due to COVID issues
The UConn women’s basketball game at DePaul on New Year’s Eve has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the program.
The announcement came from the school Tuesday night. It’s the latest cancellation to hit UConn basketball this week — the men’s program had its Tuesday game at Xavier called off and the women’s game against Marquette Wednesday was canceled.
The men’s game was canceled because UConn is dealing with a number of COVID cases, including head coach Dan Hurley. The women’s game with Marquette was called off because that program has COVID issues.
But the women are now apparently unable to field a team of seven scholarship players. UConn is dealing with a series of injuries, as Paige Bueckers (surgery on left leg), Azzi Fudd (foot), Nika Muhl (foot) and Aubrey Griffin (back, ankle) are out. That leaves the team with eight healthy players.
Bueckers is out until February and Griffin is out indefinitely. Fudd and Muhl were expected to return after the holiday break, but their status remains unclear.
According to Big East policy, the teams will attempt to reschedule the game.
UConn, which has lost two of its past three games, last played on Dec. 19 against Louisville at Mohegan Sun Arena. The team went on a holiday break after the loss to Louisville, with players departing for their homes.
Players were expected to return to campus Sunday in preparation for the game against Marquette. But that game was canceled Sunday night.
There has been a spate of Big East women’s games canceled this week. On Monday, the conference announced Providence and Georgetown are also dealing with COVID issues and were forced to cancel two games each. Providence canceled its game at Xavier (Dec. 31) and its game at Butler (Jan. 2). Georgetown canceled its home games against St. John’s (Dec. 31) and Seton Hall (Jan. 2).
UConn’s next scheduled game is Jan. 5 at Georgetown. If that game is canceled, the team’s next game will be Jan. 7 at Villanova.
UConn dealt with a number of COVID-related cancellations last season, when coach Geno Auriemma tested positive and missed the start of the NCAA Tournament.
After UConn’s game against Louisville, Auriemma was asked about the rise in COVID cases and his level of concern about potentially rescheduling games.
“Not to be insensitive about it because I think we’ve taken it about as seriously as anyone can take it, and we’ve done everything humanly possible in the last two years to help mitigate anything and we’ve handled it great,” Auriemma said. “But if we haven’t gotten past that point, then we deserve it. We’re our own worst enemy. If we’re still dealing with this stuff three years later and we’re still talking about canceling games, then what’s the point? What’s the point of even talking about basketball?
“So I’m going about it as business as usual for me. I do what I have to do. I take the precautions I have to take. But at the same time, I’m done. I’m done with living a way that I’ve had to live, like so many people have had to live, for a couple years now. You get your vaccine, you get your second one, you get your booster, you get whatever shot they tell you to get and then you cross your fingers and hope for the best. And if you choose not to do any of those things, then don’t (complain) that there isn’t college basketball because you’re part of the reason.”
Auriemma added, “At least we’ve made some progress,” noting that teams can now have a few positives tests, isolate those players, and potentially keep more games in place compared to the circumstances of the 2020-21 season.