WBB: COVID Responsible For Another UConn Cancellation

The Huskies have not played since their loss to third-ranked Louisville at Mohegan Sun on December 19th.

Hopefully, many University of Connecticut basketball fans have resolved to be more patient in the new year.

The Big East Conference announced on Tuesday that the Huskies’ Friday night tilt against the Villanova Wildcats at Finneran Pavillion has been canceled, though the league will work to find a proper time to stage the contest. The ongoing COVID-19 issues occurring in the Huskies’ program necessitated the delay, marking the fourth straight contest the team has had to reschedule since their last game on December 19, a 69-64 loss to No. 3 Louisville at Mohegan Sun Arena.

News of the cancellation was likely no surprise to Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma, who foretold its departure during his weekly appearance on “The UConn WBB Coaches Show”. Auriemma acknowledged that his team was having issues with the ongoing health crisis and expressed his doubts that his team would have the seven players required to compete. He revealed that one unidentified player had tested positive for the virus at home and thus had not even made the trip back to campus after the Christmas break.

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UConn’s COVID policies, still working under the recommendation from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, requires a ten-day isolation period after testing positive (as opposed to the five now recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), which doesn’t include the five days of practice Auriemma recommends to get back up to game speed.

In addition to the COVID issues, UConn (6-3, 1-0 Big East) is also dealing with a publicized injury list that has claimed Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin and Nika Muhl. Auriemma clarified that, even without the interference of the ongoing health crisis, none of that group would’ve been able to play on Friday against the Wildcats. Villanova (8-5, 2-2 Big East) last played on Sunday (a 70-68 home win over St. John’s) and is scheduled to visit Hartford on February 9th.

With the cancellation of the Villanova game, UConn’s next scheduled contest is currently penciled in for Sunday afternoon against Creighton (1:00pm ET, SNY). In other Connecticut basketball scheduling news, the men’s program had one of its own COVID-canceled games reinstated, as the conference announced that the Dec. 28 road game against Xavier would now be staged on February 11th.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags