Illinois basketball announced on Monday that its Wednesday game against Nebraska was postponed after positive COVID-19 tests with the Huskers program. Nebraska announced that it paused all team activities due to the positive results of COVID-19 among its Tier 1 personnel.
Nebraska said in a statement that “Ipositive test subjects are isolated and follow all Lancaster County and local health guidelines “and that the program” will conduct all necessary procedures included in the Big Ten Conference protocols “.
This is the first postponement of the Big Ten to No. 14 Illinois (9-4, 5-2 Big Ten). Illinois said in a statement that it will try to reschedule the game.
Illini had a non-conference scheduled, their home game on December 5 against UT-Martin, due to the tests of COVID-19 on the Skyhawks program.
Illinois will play No. 21 Ohio State on Saturday at 11 am at the State Farm Center.
“I think it shows an unbelievable plan for our league and university,” Underwood said on Jan. 1 of the championship’s success at the start of the season. “It doesn’t mean that we won’t have cases and we won’t have canceled games. It is one of the things I look for every day when I stop to watch today’s games. The first thing I do is count how many games have been canceled. The protocols are in effect, we had games canceled across the country because of officials. We have an incredible policy in place for this. The consideration of sporting directors, presidents, chancellors, the league office has been incredible for that and really the commitment of coaches and players to live it. We feel like there will obviously be the next 10 days with the Christmas and New Year holidays – everyone did a few different things with it, playing and letting the guys go home. You want to go through this, but we feel like we’re in a great place. Many games appearing without our students, that was (the) intention. We’ll see how it goes, but we feel like we’re in a great place. We were very lucky and a well thought out plan has been very effective so far. “
Joey Wagner contributed to this report.