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The game between the No. 10 VCU Rams and No. 7 Oregon Ducks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament has been canceled due to COVID-19 positive tests within the VCU program.
The program has issued a statement saying there have been multiple positive tests:
According to VCU’s statement, the team underwent COVID-19 testing every day for the past three weeks but encountered multiple positive tests in the past 48 hours: pic.twitter.com/2rPk30JtnK
— Wayne Epps Jr. (@wayneeppsjr) March 20, 2021
There also might be a tie with an official that worked some games around teams that had COVID-19 issues:
Not sure if it’s connected yet, but referee Roger Ayers worked the A-10 tourney title game involving VCU.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 20, 2021
Ayers confirmed to @Stadium he was the official who tested positive earlier this week.
Source to @CBSSports: VCU had its first positive surface on Wednesday, then two more positives surfaced Friday night, which prompted Marion County health officials and the NCAA to decide allowing VCU to move forward and play its game vs. Oregon was too risky.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 20, 2021
And it appears it wasn’t the team or the NCAA that chose to cancel the game, but Marion County (Indianapolis) health officials. The game was to be played at Indiana Farmers Coliseum at 9:57 p.m., and the Ducks were a six-point favorite.
VCU had multiple positive tests in the last 48 hours, sources told @stadium. Local health department and NCAA made decision to cancel the game. https://t.co/RS18b0fxfg
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 20, 2021
More: VCU has no indication when it will be allowed to leave. Everyone quarantining in their rooms. NCAA is waiting to figure out next steps.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 20, 2021
Staff met w/ players in hotel hallway and broke the news.
"Some were more emotional than others. Some guys, it hadn’t hit them fully."
This is a devastating blow to a team that had to get to the Atlantic-10 Final just to have a chance to play in this championship, where they fell 74-65 to St. Bonaventure in Dayton. The Rams were one of the best defensive teams in the country, and ranked third nationally in steal percentage.
In the West Regional game, No. 2 Iowa leads No. 15 Grand Canyon 42-31 at halftime.