WOAY – One of the most anticipated matchups of The Basketball Tournament’s 2020 edition will not occur due to COVID-19.
Best Virginia, a team of WVU men’s basketball alumni, announced Monday they would withdraw from the competition after multiple players tested positive for COVID-19. This was one of TBT’s new conditions when announcing its changes for 2020, that a team would not play if a member tested positive.
The team said in a statement, “Out of an abundance of caution, all parties at our recent practices were notified, as well as the appropriate local health agencies, and our players and staff were tested…..Because of the heightened nature of safety and security in TBT this year due to the virus, we will not be participating. This is not the news West Virginians want to hear. It was a tough decision to come to. But this is the reality of where we are now, and safety is everything.”
TBT officials posted a statement, saying in part, “We’re disappointed for the Best Virginia players and fans that they won’t get an opportunity to compete in TBT 2020, and our thoughts are with the player for a speedy recovery.”
Best Virginia was going to face Herd That – a team of Marshall basketball alumni – in the first round in Columbus, Ohio. Instead, Herd That will now face Playing for Jimmy V on Sunday, July 5th.
