Arizona's Pac-12 opener against Colorado on Wednesday has been postponed because of COVID-19 issues with the Buffaloes, while CU announced a pause for all activity in its men's basketball program.
Saying Colorado did not have the minimum of seven scholarship players available, the Pac-12 said it will work with both programs to reschedule the game. Arizona is already scheduled to face Colorado again on Feb. 6 at Boulder, Colo.
The postponement is the third one over the Wildcats' first four scheduled games to be sidelined because of COVID issues with their opponents -- and UA's fifth scheduled game is also in doubt. Northern Colorado, which is scheduled to appear Saturday at McKale Center,Β paused its programΒ due to a positive test on Nov. 25.
Colorado had been hoping to play through its COVID issues, going without three players in a win at Kansas State last Friday after wing D'Shawn Schwartz tested positive and two other players were sidelined by contact tracing to Schwartz's positive test.
But the Pac-12 said Tuesday that Colorado did not have the minimum number of scholarship athletes available, indicating the Buffaloes had more positive tests and/or tracing issues. Teams must have at least seven scholarship players available and, under Pac-12 guidelines, at least one coach.
Colorado coach Tad Boyle had said Monday that things were "so far, so good," and that the Buffaloes would be tested twice on Monday and then again on Tuesday before traveling to Tucson.
By Tuesday morning, CU athletic director Rick George announced that Wednesday's game was postponed with other upcoming games "dependent upon contact tracing and subsequent testing of team members and basketball staff this week." The Buffaloes are also scheduled to host Washington State on Saturday.
The Wildcats had games against NAU (Nov. 25) and UTEP (Nov. 29) also canceled, with the NAU game rescheduled for Dec. 7. Arizona is expected to reschedule UTEP, and the two programs both have the weekend of Dec. 11-12 open, which is just after the Miners are expected to return from quarantine/isolation periods.
The only game Arizona has managed to play so far is a 74-55 win over Grambling on Friday at McKale Center.
However, the cancellations are giving more time for Ira Lee to return from his concussion and for the NCAA to make a determination on Kerr Kriisa's eligibility status.
An hour after announcing the cancellation, the Pac-12Β issued updated protocols and cancellation policiesΒ for men's basketball games. Nonconference opponents must test at least four times a week, including once the day of a game, while the NCAA minimum is three.
In addition, the Pac-12 said games may be canceled if local transmission rates are considered unsafe by local health officials, or if officials determine there is insufficient hospital capacity for a surge. At Stanford, a new Santa Clara County order isΒ prohibiting games or practicesΒ through at least Dec. 21, meaning the Dec. 19 UA game at Stanford is likely to be moved or postponed.
Arizona's schedule now looks like this:Β
ARIZONA'S 2020-21Β MEN'SΒ BASKETBALLΒ SCHEDULE
Nov. 25:Β NAU β POSTPONED
Nov. 27:Β ARIZONA 75, GRAMBLING STATE 55
Nov. 29::Β UTEP β POSTPONED
Wednesday:Β COLORADO β POSTPONED
Saturday:Β NORTHERN COLORADO, noon (Pac-12 Networks)
Monday: NAU (rescheduled from Nov. 25), 7 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Dec. 9:Β CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD, 5 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Dec. 16:Β CAL BAPTIST, 5 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Dec. 19:Β at Stanford, time TBA (Pac-12 Networks)
Dec. 22:Β MONTANA, 5 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
Dec. 31:Β at Washington, time and TV TBA
Jan. 2:Β at Washington State,Β time and TV TBA
Jan. 7:Β USC, time and TV TBA
Jan. 9:Β UCLA, time and TV TBA
Jan. 14:Β at Oregon State, time and TV TBA
Jan. 16:Β at Oregon, time and TV TBA
Jan. 21:Β at Arizona State, time and TV TBA
Jan. 28:Β STANFORD, time and TV TBA
Jan. 30:Β CAL, time and TV TBA
Feb. 4:Β at Utah, time and TV TBA
Feb. 6:Β at Colorado, time and TV TBA
Feb. 11:Β OREGON STATE, time and TV TBA
Feb. 13:Β OREGON, time and TV TBA
Feb. 18:Β at UCLA, time and TV TBA
Feb. 20:Β at USC, time and TV TBA
Feb. 25:Β WASHINGTON STATE, time and TV TBA
Feb. 27:Β WASHINGTON, time and TV TBA
March 6:Β ARIZONA STATE, time and TV TBA
* Southwest Classic multi-team event
