Rick Barnes believes Tennessee’s # 19 game against South Carolina on Wednesday will be played as scheduled at its new date and time, despite the Vols dealing with COVID issues this week.
Barnes said in Vol. Vol Network calls on Monday night he doesn’t “think there is a reason why” the game is not played. It was announced by the SEC on Monday night that the game was moved from Tuesday to Wednesday after the Vols are dealing with a positive test and subsequent contact tracking.
Tennessee (14-5, 7-5 SEC) is now scheduled to host South Carolina (5-9, 3-7) for a 9pm Eastern Time start (TV: SEC Network) at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday, a game that was initially scheduled for 8:30 pm on Tuesday.
“I think they changed the game there because, first, it’s just a matter of protocol with our team, our regular tests,” said Barnes.
The positive COVID test was returned on Sunday, part of the regular tests in which Vols participate three times a week. The team was tested again on Monday afternoon.
“It happens,” said Barnes. “You hate this to happen. I hate it for everyone. I hate it for us, I hate South Carolina, I hate everyone. I’ll be back, the SEC, they are doing everything they can to try to keep things as fluid as possible. “
Tennessee has not handled positive COVID tests since several positive results were reported in the November 22 tests, eliminating the first two weeks from the regular season schedule. Three SEC games on the Vols’ schedule have been postponed so far this season due to problems with COVID on other shows, in South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Florida.
“(South Carolina) should leave at 1 am (Monday),” said Barnes of the Gamecocks’ original travel plans for the trip to Knoxville, “and obviously their doctors will not allow them to do that. “
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South Carolina has dealt with several breaks in the team’s activities this season. If the game was not played on Wednesday, he would leave Tennessee with two games remaining on the schedule – Kentucky at home on Saturday and a trip to Auburn on February 27.
The Vols have open dates for possible makeup games on February 22 or 23, March 2 or 3 and March 6.
“Come back to, I mean it was in December, when South Carolina went and played in Houston,” said Barnes. “They went there, they got there, I think one of the coaches was positive on the day they played. Then, the next day, two players tested positive and that was when South Carolina really shook it.
“So it’s almost the same scenario, when you think about it. So I understand everyone’s concern, what it should be. “
The concern will remain until Tennessee gets the results of Monday’s retest.
“It’s just the unknown,” said Barnes. “We don’t know, we just hope it works. But we don’t know, let’s just wait and see. “