Gators basketball team will miss first 2 games due to COVID-19 concerns

File-This Jan. 12, 2019, file photo shows Florida head coach Mike White directing his team against Tennessee during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Gainesville, Fla. After winning a season-high four straight games, including road wins against Alabama and then-No. 13 LSU, the Gators (16-11, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) now face the last two teams in the Southeastern Conference standings. They are games Florida simply can't afford to lose. The two-game stretch begins Wednesday night at Vanderbilt (9-18, 0-14), where the Gators have dropped four in a row. No one on Florida's roster has experienced a victory at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tennessee. White has dealt with even more futility there. He's 0-9 at Vanderbilt, including 0-2 as a player at Mississippi (1995-99), 0-4 as an assistant coach with the Rebels (2004-11) and winless in three trips as Florida's head coach. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey, File) (Matt Stamey, 2019 Associated Press All Rights Reserved)

The University of Florida will delay the start of its men’s basketball season due to COVID-19 concerns.

That break will wipe out games at the Mohegan Sun tournament in Uncasville, Conn. against UMass Lowell and Virginia. If those COVID-19 issues subside, Florida would be able to play its third game of the season on Dec. 2 at Oklahoma. Florida’s home opener is Dec. 6 against Stetson.

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In a statement, the Gators said that “the Florida men’s basketball team has paused team activities for one week due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing protocols. The Gators will not play this week’s scheduled games vs. UMass Lowell and Virginia.”


About the Author:

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.