Syracuse basketball and the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference got word on Friday morning that there has been a positive Covid-19 test within the Virginia program, according to a press release from the conference.
The top-seeded Cavaliers, as we all know, defeated the No. 8 seed Orange in a heart-breaking manner on Thursday afternoon in a quarterfinal match-up of the ACC Tournament from Greensboro, N.C.
UVA was scheduled to play the event’s No. 4 seed, Georgia Tech, in the semifinal round on Friday evening. Because of the “positive test, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing within the Virginia men’s basketball program,” that game has been canceled.
The Yellow Jackets will move on to the ACC Tournament championship clash, where they will face either No. 2 seed Florida State or No. 6 seed North Carolina. The title game will occur on Saturday night.
How the positive Covid-19 test in the UVA program could impact the ‘Cuse is unclear. A Syracuse basketball spokesman said that the Orange found out about the development with Virginia at the same time as everyone else, that is, when the ACC made its announcement.
Source to @CBSSports: Virginia player who has tested positive for COVID-19 played in Thursday's game vs. Syracuse.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 12, 2021
The ‘Cuse spokesman said that the team doesn’t have any comment at this juncture.
Syracuse basketball will have to wait and see if the Virginia positive test affects the Orange.
Despite the Cavaliers breaking the collective heart of ‘Cuse Nation on Thursday afternoon, I feel tremendous sadness for the Virginia players, coaches, staff members and fans.
The same goes for Duke, as the Blue Devils saw their quarterfinal encounter with Florida State halted due to a positive Covid-19 test within the Duke program.
I hope that the Cavaliers, the ACC’s regular-season champion during the 2020-21 campaign, are able to play in March Madness. Obviously, I also hope that there are no positive Covid-19 tests within the Syracuse basketball program as the Orange waits for Selection Sunday to learn if it has garnered an invite to the 2021 Big Dance.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a topsy-turvy 2020-21 term for the ‘Cuse and the entirety of college basketball. Many games have been canceled, teams have gone on pause, and now the pandemic is impacting conferences’ post-season tournaments as well.
The upcoming NCAA Tournament should prove an interesting one. Hopefully, Virginia and Syracuse basketball will get to participate.