WVU men’s hoops postpones home opener after Youngstown State pauses for covid-19

Kevin Gorman
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 5:34 p.m. | Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 5:34 p.m.

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AP

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins, shown reacting during the first half of an NCAA game against Baylor last March, and his No. 15 Mountaineers had to postpone their home opener against Youngstown State after the Penguins paused their program because of a covid-19 case.

West Virginia postponed its men’s basketball home opener Dec. 2 because a member of Youngstown State’s “inner bubble” tested positive for covid-19 and forced the Penguins to pause team activities.

Through contact tracing, Youngstown State determined members of the men’s basketball program were close contacts and will be quarantined to monitor their health. The Penguins canceled their games for the week of Nov. 25-29, delaying the start of their season.

“As we experience an unprecedented year in college athletics and across the entire country due to the covid-19 pandemic, we continue to keep the health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes and staff first and foremost,” YSU athletic director Ron Strollo said in a statement.

The No. 15 Mountaineers will open the season with an ESPN-televised game against Northern Iowa at 2 p.m. Nov. 25 in the first game of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic in Sioux Falls, S.D. West Virginia and Youngstown State are hoping to reschedule for later in December.