WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Michigan’s No. 7 men’s basketball team passed Purdue on Friday night, dominating the defense and matching the Boilermakers’ physicality to the result of a 70-53 victory.
But earlier in the week, there was a real possibility that the game wouldn’t even take place.
Thursday afternoon, the Wolverines were alerted by Purdue that a player had tested positive for COVID-19. Although the Boilermakers did not reveal until Friday that he was the striker and the second highest scorer Sasha Stefanovic, it didn’t really matter who it was; with the rapid spread of COVID-19, a positive can make an entire team and the game unfeasible, not to mention the obvious health uncertainty.
“I didn’t know which player I was”, Michigan coach Juwan Howard said. “My heart was with the Purdue program and also with that player, his health and safety are always number 1. To discover something like that, you just feel for that student-athlete in particular.
“COVID is real, I lost a family member to COVID, it’s not easy. Student-athlete, loves to play basketball, I just hope he comes back well, man. ”
According to coach Purdue Matt PainterStefanovic started experiencing symptoms on Wednesday morning, hours after the Boilermakers disturbed the state of Ohio on the road. Although Stefanovic tested negative on Wednesday, Painter and Purdue prevented him from practicing or leaving the house that day.
On Thursday, Stefanovic had tested positive, putting the teams’ clash at risk on Friday night.
Of course, the two teams agreed to play and, after the match, the two coaches talked about the transparency between the two programs.
Upon learning of Purdue’s positive test, Michigan asked the entire Boilermaker team to do a PCR + test. Each player tested negative.
“I think it was a good move,” said Painter of Michigan’s request.
Citing his Columbus travel protocols that require wearing masks and prohibit eating or drinking around other people, Painter said Purdue was comfortable playing. The ball was in the Michigan field, and Painter said on Friday that the Wolverines were entitled to the decision.
“We need to have the gentlemen’s agreement in our league that if someone makes a decision, even if it is not a decision as consistent as someone else’s decision, it is still theirs,” Painter said. “Respect that and go after anyone by your own decision. “
According to Howard, the decision would not be his alone. The head coach said he consulted each player and program employee individually about the option to play.
“They all have a voice when it comes to a serious situation like this,” said Howard.
Michigan players, initially cautious, appreciated the transparency of the Boilermakers to them during the process.
“In the beginning we were many and I’m just going to talk about myself, I was against it”, senior striker and team captain Isaiah Livers said. “But once I found out that they were all going to do PCRs later, and it was just a guy and he had been quarantined … so I was like, ‘Okay, we can work on this.’
“… We wouldn’t take the bus here or come here if they weren’t being frank or totally honest, so I think that’s what led to that.”
Colleague captain and senior guard Eli Brooks said an extra effort was made to ensure that players did not feel pressured to play. There was a risk, of course, because many positive cases of COVID-19 were not identified by testing until days after an individual contracted the virus. Even after the game was released, it is likely that both programs will be restless for several days due to concerns about further spread.
Ultimately, Brooks felt that Purdue’s transparency and seriousness were sufficient for him to trust the Boilermakers’ protocols and practices.
“That’s all you can ask for,” said Brooks. “Because playing now, it is uncertain whether people are telling the truth, and that is the best way to do that. (Transparency) goes a long way. “
Then, in the end, the entire Michigan team took a bus trip to Purdue on Thursday night, and the game was played. There are some unanswered questions – none of the coaches cited the involvement of medical professionals in the decision-making process to begin with.
Purdue is out for eight days, while Michigan is out for four. Fans, family members and members of both programs are likely to be restless until players are confirmed negative several times.
But on Friday, Michigan was comfortable with his act of faith.
“We just had to trust them,” said Livers. “We are in a time when we have to trust the coaches and Matt Painter is a great guy, he recruited me. Coach Howard even praised him, said he was super helpful in this situation. He was not like trying to hold on to anything. “