Nearly three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wednesday's Iowa-Northwestern basketball game has been postponed because of virus outbreak among Wildcats players. The news has left some fans fuming on social media.
Hope those players get well soon. With that said, not fair to Iowa having to cram in a game later in the year. Iowa had to play games without 3 of their starters earlier this year. @bigten making up rules as they go along.
— MattyMc1 (@triaxmax) January 17, 2023
— Todd Versteegh (@TLVersteegh) January 17, 2023
Why should Iowa have to be potentially forced to play 4 games in 6 days at the end of the season to accommodate NW?
Northwestern’s game at Iowa tonight has been postponed. Northwestern only has 6 available players due to COVID, source told @Stadium.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 17, 2023
The Big Ten policy states the conference will determine if the game can be rescheduled, declared a no-contest or ruled a forfeit. The decision on the outcome could have a big impact as both teams are on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.
A Milwaukee-Rhode Island game in December is believed to be the last Division I game canceled this season because of COVID.
At the start of the pandemic, many games were called off because of outbreaks. The virus even led to the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament.
Northwestern’s next game is Saturday against Wisconsin, but Badgers head coach Greg Gard has already cast doubt that the game will be played (h/t 247Sports).
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