UNI cancels their final 2 non-conference games

[Da Coach]

In the wake of Covid issues and injury issues, UNI has announced they will cancel their last 2 non-conference games against Wisconsin and Marshall.

https://twitter.com/UNImbb/status/1338121587917197312

They also cancelled yesterday's game (12/12) against Green Bay. So they finish their non-conference schedule 1-4, with the only win against St. Ambrose.
Their next games are Dec. 27 & 28 at home vs Missouri State to start the MVC schedule.
https://unipanthers.com/news/2020/12...nce-games.aspx

[BUfan17]

All of these game cancellations are kind of worrying me about this season even being completed. I know the vaccine just got approved, but young healthy college athletes are going to be some of the last in line to get it. Sounds like they'll have to wait until March/April like most people.

[houstonbrave]

This is a bit strange. The Green Bay game was cancelled due to a Positive COVID test at UNI that turned out to be a false positive and now they are pausing activities and letting the players go home for a week. While I respect their statement that the players have not been home since June- the chance (I fear likelihood) of COVID exposure at home seems high. Hope they all stay healthy-nobody has far to travel to get home-the whole roster is From Iowa or Minnesota

[Da Coach]

I agree. Their chances of being exposed to Covid are probably higher at home and away from the more controlled environments in the basketball program, especially if they go out and sociaize.

The other thing that seems unusual is that the UNI statement said this:
"The challenges presented by the current pandemic combined with a number of injuries have had a significant impact on our available number of student-athletes," Jacobson said. "We will be pausing all basketball activities which includes practice and our final two non-conference games against Wisconsin and Marshall...."

So Covid problems were ruled out (the one case they had was a false positive). So, it seems odd that the coach doesn't think he has enough players due to injuries. And since when does a team simply cancel games because the don't think they have enough players? Usually that results in a forfeit. I don't have any inside knowledge about their injuries, but even without A,J, Green, Antwan Kimmons, Tytan Anderson (who has not played yet due to an injury), and Goanar Mar (whose transfer waiver was denied) their roster still shows 11 other players, all of whom have played in previous games. All 5 of the starters from their last 2 games are still available, plus 6 reserves (unless there are undisclosed injuries). So this announcement seems a little dubious.

https://unipanthers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2020-21

[bradleyfan124]

I agree. Their chances of being exposed to Covid are probably higher at home and away from the more controlled environments in the basketball program, especially if they go out and sociaize.

The other thing that seems unusual is that the UNI statement said this:
"The challenges presented by the current pandemic combined with a number of injuries have had a significant impact on our available number of student-athletes," Jacobson said. "We will be pausing all basketball activities which includes practice and our final two non-conference games against Wisconsin and Marshall...."

So Covid problems were ruled out (the one case they had was a false positive). So, it seems odd that the coach doesn't think he has enough players due to injuries. And since when does a team simply cancel games because the don't think they have enough players? Usually that results in a forfeit. I don't have any inside knowledge about their injuries, but even without A,J, Green, Antwan Kimmons, Tytan Anderson (who has not played yet due to an injury), and Goanar Mar (whose transfer waiver was denied) their roster still shows 11 other players, all of whom have played in previous games. All 5 of the starters from their last 2 games are still available, plus 6 reserves (unless there are undisclosed injuries). So this announcement seems a little dubious.

https://unipanthers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2020-21

I agree!! Seems like they are using this as an excuse to get out of playing games. During a regular season this would be a forfeit.