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Gonzaga, minus two players and three staff members still in quarantine in Florida, flew by charter to Indianapolis on Monday for Wednesday’s game against the West Virginia No.11.
The men’s basketball team and staff members tested for COVID-19 on Saturday, and all came back negative except for the one player who tested positive on Thursday, athletic director Mike Roth said. The staff member who tested positive on Wednesday was not retested on Saturday.
“This is a very good sign,” said athletic director Mike Roth of the latest test results.
On Monday afternoon, Roth said Wednesday’s game was still in progress, but added that the top-ranked Zags would be tested two more times before the game.
Gonzaga, who will face No.2 Baylor on Saturday in Indianapolis, will be tested again Thursday or Friday ahead of that showdown, Roth said.
Baylor will face No.5 Illinois in Wednesday’s second game of the Jimmy V Classic double title.
“We can decide whether or not we’re going to play after the doctors decide,” Roth said. “If the doctors say no, there is no choice. There is no lobbying or deliberation. “
A Gonzaga staff member tested positive on Wednesday and two other staff members identified through contact tracing have been isolated in their hotel room in Fort Myers, Florida.
The Zags hit Kansas 102-90 on Thursday. After the game, one player tested positive and a teammate who had been in close contact was isolated in his bedroom and not on the bench for Friday’s victory over Auburn.
Freshmen Dominick Harris and Julian Strawther were the only two Zags who saw Thursday play without playing Friday.
Roth said he spoke to the five in Florida and they “were doing extremely well, all of them had a positive attitude.”
Roth wasn’t quite sure when the five would be allowed to return by Florida officials, but he did believe the first dates would be December 7 or 8.
“Yes, we have received considerable criticism since these two games, mainly from people who do not have all the information in my opinion,” said Roth. “We were following the doctors’ instructions. We spoke with Lee County doctors. Once they gave the green light, it led to discussions with Kansas and Auburn: “Here’s what the medics are telling us, what do you want to do?” Everyone therefore has a say in moving forward.
Gonzaga follows safety protocols established by Indianapolis health experts, Roth said.
“What continues for us is that we will postpone and follow the doctors’ instructions,” Roth said. “There will be slippages, I’m sure because we are human beings, but we will continue to do our best to be in the best position to avoid contracting the virus and also to limit exposure.
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