DePaul pauses basketball activities, pushes season start back again

The men's basketball program of the DePaul Blue Demons cannot get its season underway. 

Late Monday night, DePaul confirmed that it was once again pausing team activities because of positive COVID-19 test results among Tier 1 personnel and subsequent quarantines impacting the team. As a result, upcoming games against the Providence Friars on Thursday and Butler Bulldogs next Monday have been postponed. 

DePaul has been dealing with varying coronavirus-related issues since pausing activities back in mid-November and announced last week that it was postponing additional contests versus the Seton Hall Pirates and Villanova Wildcats. As noted by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), DePaul has had 10 games postponed or canceled and still hasn't begun its campaign. 

"We will continue to test both during and after any quarantine periods and the latest test results we have received show these protocols are working," DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevy said in the prepared statement. "Accordingly, the men's basketball season will continue to remain on pause under guidance from our medical staff, as previously announced last week. This season has already proven to be one of starts and stops across the country. Right now, we are in the painful 'stop' phase. I want to thank our fans for their flexibility and patience, our players and coaches for remaining committed to the season ahead, and our medical team for their tireless efforts. Adversity is toughest in the midst of the storm, but I look forward to coming out the other side with a stronger and more resilient team."

DePaul's new season-opener against the Connecticut Huskies remains scheduled for Dec. 23 as of Tuesday afternoon.