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CHAPEL HILL, NC – A 72-hour whirlwind that began with a 91-87 victory over Duke on Saturday culminated with an apology from North Carolina basketball players and managers on Tuesday afternoon.
Late Sunday, the Daily Tar Heel posted an 11-second Snapchat video of UNC basketball players Armando Bacot and Day’Ron Sharpe partying with a small group of people inside without masks after the Tar Heels win over the Blue Devils.
The story exploded on social media and message boards Monday ahead of UNC’s ESPN game with Miami. A team spokesperson said the UNC would adhere to ACC medical protocol in making any decisions regarding player availability for the match. About two hours before the announcement, the CCA office announced that the game would be postponed following “a meeting of staff from both schools, who mutually concluded that the game could not move forward.”
The Miami Herald reported Monday night that Miami head coach Jim Larranaga confirmed his team’s decision to postpone the game after seeing video of UNC players partying without a mask on Sunday morning. The ACC protocol allows member institutions to make gaming decisions regarding the public health situation surrounding their student-athletes.
On Tuesday, the UNC issued a joint apology from basketball players and managers for the video in question and the situation surrounding it: “On Saturday night a number of players and managers – not just those shown on the video which been seen – gathered to celebrate our victory at Duke. Our intention was to celebrate privately within our group. Unfortunately, we allowed several friends who are not members of the team to join the rally. We were inside and not wearing masks which were mistakes.
“We apologize for not adhering to the guidelines of the University and the Sports Department and we apologize to Coach Williams and his staff for not coming forward when he first approached us. times Sunday. We worked too hard for eight months to do the right things to do them. mistakes at this point in the season. We hope to be able to play again soon and want to remind everyone to stay safe so that this pandemic ends as soon as possible.
UNC head coach Roy Williams, who has been a strong advocate for wearing masks and following the advice of medical professionals, acknowledged his team’s response: “I appreciate the players who have expressed their concern. apologies. They made a mistake. They have been fantastic for over eight months in how they handled the whole situation with the virus. But they realize that they made a mistake, for which they are paying a dear price. “
UNC are set to face Virginia’s No.9 in Charlottesville on Saturday (6 p.m. / ESPN), although it is not known if that game will play as scheduled.
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