Michigan had the option of not playing Friday’s game at Purdue, and the Wolverines considered that.
Some Michigan players were even inclined to think about it due to the positive COVID-19 test on the Purdue program.
Purdue’s flexibility and transparency made the game go as planned. Michigan won 70-53.
At 17:13, Purdue announced that owner-holder Sasha Stefanovic would not play due to a positive COVID test. Before the 7:00 point, many on social media questioned whether the game should take place. The teams initially asked themselves the same question.
According to Purdue coach Matt Painter, Stefanovic felt good before, during and immediately after Purdue’s victory at Ohio State on Tuesday night. Stefanovic started showing symptoms of COVID on Wednesday morning. His two tests that day, however, were negative. Even so, the team quarantined him.
On Thursday, he tested positive for both the initial antigen test and the follow-up PCR test.
According to Painter, his team followed the protocols throughout the season. The players wore masks and did not eat or drink on the bus and plane to and from Ohio. Stefanovic had no contact with anyone after presenting the symptoms.
Purdue sports information director Chris Forman tweeted before the tip: “We feel VERY confident in our protocols.”
Still, Painter contacted the state of Ohio and Michigan on Thursday. He told Michigan coach Juwan Howard about the positive test and to contact any questions or concerns.
Michigan, as a program, decided that the entire Purdue team should do a PCR test, although no other Boilermakers had tested positive on the antigen test.
“We honor that and I think it was a good move,” said Painter. These tests were negative.
Painter said the ten coaches agree that if a team decides not to play, the opponent will have to respect it. “We have this gentlemen’s agreement in our league,” he said.
Howard confirmed his conversations with Painter.
“My heart was with the Purdue program and that player,” said Howard. “Upon discovering something like this, I was devastated by the student-athlete in particular.”
Related: How Michigan basketball is opposing COVID and hoping for the best
The Wolverines are reducing the number of flights this season due to the pandemic and therefore took a bus to West Lafayette after training on Thursday.
“We feel comfortable coming here and playing a game,” said Howard. “I spoke with each of the players, as well as with the team members, making sure that everyone felt comfortable, not just me. They all have an active voice when it comes to a serious situation like this ”.
The players decided that the risk was minimal.
“They were transparent,” said senior guard Eli Brooks, a co-captain, referring to Purdue. “Everything we needed to know, we knew.”
Isaiah Livers, another senior co-captain, echoed his teammate. “In the beginning, many of us – I was against (playing).” After learning the protocols and the schedule, he felt comfortable making the trip. Livers scored 22 points, the best in the game, while Michigan improved to 13-1.
“We wouldn’t take the bus here if they weren’t being completely honest and frank with us,” said Livers.
Howard did not know which Purdue player had tested positive until 45 minutes before the tip.
“COVID is real,” said Howard. “I lost a family member to COVID. A boy like that (Stefanovic), a student-athlete, loves to play basketball, now having to deal with it, I just hope he comes back healthy. “