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Gonzaga Bulldogs – Baylor Bears game called off due to COVID concerns

By Patrick Schmidt

Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few talks with guard Joel Ayayi (11) in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few talks with guard Joel Ayayi (11) in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor will not play their highly-anticipated NCAA basketball game on Saturday.

College basketball was dealt a blow on Saturday morning with the Gonzaga-Baylor game called off after the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation mutually agreed to cancel.

Two members of Gonzaga’s program — one player — tested positive for COVID-19 and that player was held out of Gonzaga’s game on Wednesday.

So out of caution, both programs elected not to risk any further spread and decided against playing what would have been the game of the early-season.

Baylor-Gonzaga game called off

“In consultation with the Indiana State Health Commissioner, the Marion County Public Health Director, and both team physicians, Gonzaga and Baylor have mutually agreed today’s game will not be played,” a joint statement read.

Naturally, this is going to keep happening throughout the sport, just as it has been happening at increased rates in college football. The virus is spreading outside of sports at alarming rates so of course, it’ll do the same within college sports just as it is in society.

It’s disappointing the anticipated clash between the two top teams in the country couldn’t be played, but it is understandable.

“We’re disappointed to not be able to play one of the most-anticipated games of the season, but we are following the advice of public health officials,” a joint statement from Baylor head coach Scott Drew and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. “When we decided to play during a pandemic, our priorities were protecting the health and safety of student-athletes and following public health guidelines, and we’re proud of how both programs have held true to these promises. There are much greater issues in this world than not being able to play a basketball game, so we’re going to continue praying for everyone who has been affected by this pandemic.”

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