Hawaii basketball team pulls out of Christmas Day game due to COVID-19 issues
GEORGE F. LEE / SEPT. 29
University of Hawaii Warrior basketball coach Eran Ganot on the court during practice at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Sept. 29. UH announced that the team would not participate in Saturday’s Diamond Head Classic game against Northern Iowa.
The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team will not be on its home court for Christmas.
Citing health and safety concerns, the Rainbow Warriors decided not to play in today’s game against Northern Iowa in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
COVID-19 infections and injuries left the Rainbow Warriors with an insufficient number of available players for the seventh-place game in SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Tip-off was scheduled for 10:30 a.m for the nationally televised game.
The Warriors entered Thursday’s consolation game with three players out with injuries and a fourth, center Mate Colina, in the health/safety protocol. Today, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser learned there were undisclosed additions to the protocol.
“We’re extremely disappointed to not participate in (today’s) game, but it’s absolutely the right thing to do,” UH coach Eran Ganot said in a statement circulated to the media. “Our program didn’t have a single positive COVID case over the last 21 months and now we’re being affected like so many programs across the country. It’s an unfortunate situation, but the priority remains to protect our student-athletes as well as those that we compete against.”
The decision to withdraw came after discussions involving staff, medical personnel and administration.
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It appears UH will not be credited with a forfeit or loss. This week, the Big West, of which UH is a member, declared a canceled game as a “no contest” rather than a forfeit. The Big West reasoned it aligned with NCAA standards for a team that cannot participate because of certain circumstances, such as illness.
The ’Bows are scheduled to open Big West play against UC Davis on Thursday in SimpliFi Arena. The Jan. 1 game against UC Riverside was canceled because of COVID-19 circumstances involving the Highlanders.
