AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Basketball will officially be advancing in the Phillips 66 Big 12 tournament after Kansas was forced to cancel due to a positive COVID-19 test.
The game was scheduled to be played on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
The cancellation comes after the positive test result, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing within the Jayhawks' men’s basketball program.
The Longhorns are now set to play the winner of Friday night's Baylor vs. Oklahoma State game.
"Obviously, we are disappointed and our players are disappointed that they can’t continue to compete for the Big 12 championship," Kansas Head Coach Bill Self said. "While we have been fortunate to avoid this throughout the season, there are daily risks with this virus that everybody participating is trying to avoid. We have followed the daily testing and additional protocols that have been set up for us. Unfortunately, we caught a bad break at the wrong time."
As the days continue, the pandemic threatens to upend tournament week just two days before the NCAA Tournament field is set.
One day after Duke pulled out of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and ended its season because of a positive COVID-19 test, No. 16 Virginia also called off its ACC tourney semifinal for the same reason.
Both the Cavaliers and Jayhawks now must hope contact tracing and other protocols allow them to stay in consideration for the Big Dance that begins in a week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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