No. 1 Gonzaga Plays, Rolls Despite Positive Tests For COVID-19

Some college basketball teams would have called off their game after learning that one player and one staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

But not No. 1 Gonzaga.

One day after beating up on No. 6 Kansas, the Zags rolled Auburn, 90-67, to win the Fort Myer Tip-Off Classic.

“We’ve had a positive test on an administrative person staff and then we had a positive test on a player,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “It’s just kind of how the preseason has went. You just wait to get the news on testing and then you have to react, and you have to stay agile.

“And we followed the COVID protocols of the tournament and the Florida health board down here, they’ve all been great. It’s been very professional. Our guys have been incredibly diligent about following all the rules. We’ve taken PCR tests, the gold standard, and we react to whatever happens after the tests. I think it’s going to be like that all year.”

The NCAA recommends a 14-day pause after a positive COVID test to a Tier-1 individual, and numerous programs are currently paused across the country. Eight of 11 Big East teams have been impacted by COVID, with many of them pausing activities along the way.

Shawn Harris, the father of Gonzaga freshman guard Dominick Harris, Tweeted that his son had to quarantine after coming in close proximity with a player who tested positive. According to reports, the only other Gonzaga player not on the bench Friday was freshman Julian Strawther.

Prior to Thursday’s games, the event released this statement:

“Following testing of all team travel parties on Wednesday, which included 112 PCR tests, one positive result from a non-student-athlete was confirmed from the Gonzaga travel party. Event organizers activated its medical protocols and contacted the Florida Department of Health to independently conduct contact tracing measures. At the conclusion of their investigation, two close, non-student-athlete Gonzaga contacts were identified. All three individuals are isolating in their hotel rooms under the supervision of their institution’s medical team. The medical staffs from all programs deemed today’s games can be played as scheduled.”

None of it affected Gonzaga on the court, though.

After beating Kansas on Thanksgiving to give Few his 600th career victory, the Zags looked every bit the No. 1 team in the nation by coming back less than 24 hours and handling Auburn.

Drew Timme had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Corey Kispert scored 25 points and Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga’s highest-rated recruit, added 12 points and six assists.

Gonzaga has now scored 192 points in two days and looks every bit the favorite to win the NCAA Tournament.

“They’re the best team I’ve seen,” ESPN’s Jay Bilas said on air. “They score the easiest.”

Another Power Five opponent awaits Gonzaga, which faces No. 15 West Virginia in Indianapolis — site of this year’s Final Four — on Wednesday.

(The AP contributed reporting)

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