Why Michigan, Purdue played Friday night’s game, despite COVID-19 case



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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Michigan’s No.7 men’s basketball team passed Purdue on Friday night, dominating in defense and matching the Boilermakers’ face to a 70-53 victory.

But earlier in the week, there was a real possibility that the game wouldn’t even happen at all.

On Thursday afternoon, the Wolverines were alerted by Purdue that a player had tested positive for COVID-19. Although the Boilermakers did not reveal until Friday that they were starting forwards and second-highest scorer Sasha Stefanovic, no matter who it was; with the rapid spread of COVID-19, a single positive can derail an entire team and game, not to mention the obvious health uncertainty.

“I didn’t know which player it was”, Michigan coach Juwan howard said. “My heart went to the Purdue program and also to this player, his health and safety is still # 1. To find something like that, you feel right for this particular student-athlete.

“COVID is real, I lost a family member to COVID, it’s not easy. Student-athlete loves to play basketball, I just hope he comes back healthy, man.”

According to Coach Purdue Matt painterStefanovic began to experience symptoms Wednesday morning, hours after Boilermakers upset Ohio on the road. Although Stefanovic tested negative on Wednesday, Painter and Purdue prevented him from practicing or leaving his home that day.

On Thursday, Stefanovic had tested positive, putting Friday night’s game between the teams at risk.

Of course, both teams agreed to play, and after the game both coaches talked about the transparency between the two programs.

After hearing Purdue’s positive test, Michigan asked the entire Boilermaker team to take a PCR + test. Each player has tested negative.

“I think it was a good decision,” Painter said of Michigan’s request.

Citing their Columbus travel protocols which mandate the use of the mask and prohibit eating or drinking near others, Painter said Purdue felt comfortable playing. The ball was in Michigan’s court and Painter said on Friday the Wolverines were entitled to their decision.

“We have to have this gentleman’s agreement in our league that if someone makes a decision even though it might not be as consistent a decision as someone else’s decision, it’s still theirs. Painter said. their own decision.
According to Howard, that wasn’t going to be his only decision. The head coach said he consulted with each player and program staff individually on the option to play.

“They all have a voice when it comes to a serious situation like this,” Howard said.

The initially suspicious Michigan actors appreciated the Boilermakers’ transparency to them during the process.

“At the beginning, there were a lot of us, and I’m just going to talk about myself, I was against it”, senior striker and team captain Isaiah Livers said. “But once I found out that they were all going to get HBP afterwards, and there was only one guy and he had been quarantined… so I was like, ‘Okay, we can work with that. ‘

“… We weren’t going to take the bus here or come here if they weren’t up front with us or totally honest, so I think that’s what led to it.

Captain and senior guard Eli brooks said an extra effort has been made so that players don’t feel pressured into playing. There was a risk, of course, as many positive cases of COVID-19 were not identified by testing until days after an individual contracted the virus. Even after starting the game, it is likely that both programs will be uncomfortable for several days for the sake of spread.

In the end, Brooks felt that Purdue’s transparency and seriousness was enough for him to trust the Boilermaker protocols and practices.

“That’s all you can ask for,” Brooks said. “Because playing right now, it’s not certain that people are telling the truth, and that’s the best way to do it. (Transparency) goes a long way. “

So in the end, the entire Michigan team got on the bus to Purdue on Thursday night and the game was played. There are some unanswered questions – none of the coaches cited the involvement of medical professionals in the decision-making process, to begin with.

Purdue is now on leave for eight days, while Michigan is on four. Fans, family, and members of both programs will likely be uncomfortable until players are repeatedly confirmed negative.

But on Friday Michigan felt comfortable with its leap of faith.

“We just had to trust them,” Livers said. “We’re in a time where we have to trust the coaches, and Matt Painter is a great guy, he recruited me. Coach Howard even praised him, said he was very helpful in this situation. He didn’t like trying to hold back anything.



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