Kansas withdrew from the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament after a positive COVID-19 test, the school announced on Friday.
The Jayhawks were scheduled to face Texas in the 12 big semifinals on Friday; the Longhorns advance to the championship game to face the winner of Baylor-Oklahoma State.
The great Kansas men, David McCormack and Tristan Enaruna, lost the Big 12 tournament because of the COVID-19 protocols, although coach Bill Self did not specify whether any of the players tested positive for the virus or were eliminated due to the screening of contact. None of the players traveled with the team to Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas will remain in Kansas City and will continue to be tested daily in accordance with the NCAA tournament protocols.
“Obviously, we are disappointed and our players are disappointed that they cannot continue to compete for the Big 12 championship,” said Self. “Although we are fortunate enough to prevent this over the course of the season, there are daily risks with this virus that all participants are trying to avoid. We follow the daily tests and additional protocols that have been established for us, unfortunately, we catch a problem at the wrong time I am looking forward to preparing my team in a probably unique way for next week’s NCAA Tournament. “
Kansas is the fourth team in the past two days to withdraw from a conference tournament due to problems with COVID-19, after Duke and Virginia at ACC and number 1 in the North Carolina A&T classification at MEAC.
Virginia and Kansas can still play in the NCAA tournament, despite having to submit seven consecutive days of negative tests. Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of men’s basketball at the NCAA, said a team only needs five healthy players to play in an NCAA tournament. If neither the Cavaliers nor the Jayhawks have a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 and the rest of the team continues to test negative, both teams may be eligible to play in the NCAA tournament.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett said on Friday that the Cavaliers are “running out of options to participate in the NCAA Tournament”.