Mizzou Tigers’ Cuonzo Martin addresses COVID cancellations across college basketball
Over the last week, nearly two dozen Division I basketball programs have had to pause all activities and postpone games due to COVID-19 outbreaks as the new Omicron variant makes its way around the country.
Professional sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA and NHL have had a flurry of players entering health and safety protocols as well.
Missouri men’s basketball hasn’t been affected this season, but it dealt with an outbreak last January. Every player is vaccinated now, but the same can be said for many of the teams that have shut down in recent days.
When asked about the the efforts his program is taking following the Tigers’ 83-75 win over Utah on Saturday, Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin explained that getting players booster vaccines is a top priority.
“We’re working toward getting the booster shots as we speak,” Martin said.
Doing so is vital, as the SEC policy for all sports in the 2021-22 academic year penalizes teams that deal with COVID-19 outbreaks.
A release from the conference in August stated: “In the event a team is unable to begin or complete a regular season Conference event due to the unavailability of participants (due to COVID-19, injuries or other reasons), that team will forfeit the contest and will be assigned a loss in the Conference standings. The opposing team that is ready to play will be credited with a win in the Conference standings. Both teams will be deemed to have played and completed the contest for purpose of the Conference standings.
If both teams are unable to compete due to the unavailability of participants (due to COVID-19, injuries or other reasons), both teams shall be deemed to have forfeited the game, with a loss assigned to both teams and applied to the conference standings. Both teams will be deemed to have played and completed the contest for purpose of the Conference standings.
The Commissioner retains discretion to declare a “no contest” for any event if extraordinary circumstances warrant.
Tie-breaker procedures specific to each sport will apply for determining Conference champions, division champions where applicable, and/or seeding in Conference championship events.
Any direct financial loss on the part of the school that was able to play a cancelled event may be submitted for consideration for reimbursement subject to approval from the SEC Executive Committee.”
No SEC basketball teams have had to pause activities so far this season, and the conference has yet to announce whether it will be adjusting its policy.
Utah was without arguably its best player, 7-foot center Branden Carlson against the Tigers on Saturday due to health and safety protocols, according to a report from the Salt Lake Tribune.
“I wish he could have been there,” Martin said of Carlson. “I’ve been in a situation where guys miss a lot of games. I know what that feels like.”
Mizzou Arena doesn’t require proof of vaccination from fans and most people in the building for games don’t wear masks, making the basketball teams more susceptible to an outbreak.
Martin said his team wears masks while on buses, planes and at airports on the road, but added, “I would imagine here moving forward, we probably start having to put the mask on.” He and most members of his coaching staff don’t wear them during games or around the facility.
“We got great doctors, administrators and trainers here and we follow protocol,” Martin said. “...We follow their lead, and whatever they say that’s what we do.”
The Tigers are set to face Illinois at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis for the annual Braggin’ Rights game on Wednesday night. The game will air on the Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. Central time.
