Paul Sancya / Associated Press
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament between Oregon and VCU was excluded as a non-match due to the COVID-19 protocols.
The NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee announced the decision Saturday, with the ducks advancing to the round of 32:
Mike Rhoades, head coach of the VCU told reporters his team has ‘had multiple positive COVID-19 tests over the past two days’.
A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade issued a statement on the situation, calling it “extremely disappointing and heartbreaking” for VCU’s student-athletes:
An Oregon spokesman said Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the team will train and light up Saturday night at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Per die rules established by the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees, teams forced to withdraw from the tournament due to health and safety protocols will not be replaced once the event begins.
The NCAA did draw up a contingency plan immediately after the 68-team field announced on March 14.
Dan Gavitt, NCAA Senior Vice President announced On Tuesday, no replacement teams were needed.
Virginia was a question mark due to concerns about the coronavirus that forced him to withdraw from the ACC tournament, but the team was finally cleaned to travel to Indianapolis on Friday. The Cavaliers are the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Region and play Saturday in Ohio.
VCU got a big bid after beating St. Louis. Bonaventure lost in the A-10 final.
The Ducks and Rams would take off at 21:57 ET in the last game of the West Region. Oregon plays Monday in the second round of Iowa or Grand Canyon.