Ohio State has canceled another game.
The Buckeye men's basketball team will miss its third-straight game this week as the team continues to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak within the program.
“Our guys are progressing through the COVID return to play protocols well, but we just don’t have the numbers or readiness to play a game yet,” head coach Chris Holtmann said in a release. “Player safety as it relates to COVID and as they return to play after a significant time off, will always be a top priority.”
Last week, Holtmann said on his radio show that the team "fully intends" to play this week's game against New Orleans, saying the team was fully vaccinated and was showing only "light symptoms."
"While we were hopeful we could play on the 28th, I think that was maybe a little too optimistic on our part – on my part," Holtmann said on his radio show on Monday.
Holtmann notes the team hasn't had any practice on Dec. 15 and that playing the game this week would have been "rushed."
The team returned to practice on Sunday and was said to be on track to play in Tuesday's game as late as Sunday evening, but Holtmann said they determined on Monday that it was just going to be unrealistic due to the players available and limited practice.
"We practiced with five guys (on Sunday), only four of which were eligible to play," Holtmann explained on his radio show. Holtmann said if Ohio State would have had even seven players with multiple days of practice, he would have been willing to play.
Holtmann does fully expect that Ohio State will be ready to play Nebraska on Sunday, which would end a three-week COVID-induced layoff as the Buckeyes have not played since their Dec. 11 win over Wisconsin.
"We'll be rusty, but we'll be ready," Holtmann said.
