USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few reacts on the sideline in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 2, 2020; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few reacts on the sideline in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Baylor Bears were supposed to meet in a highly anticipated college basketball clash. Both the teams are ranked one and two in almost every major poll, and this battle was for early supremacy this season. But as is the theme of sports right now, COVID-19 didn’t care and the game was canceled.
College basketball has suffered from multiple positive tests since their return, with cases causing games to be re-scheduled constantly. The Baylor-Gonzaga game is easily the biggest loss that we have had from any of the canceled games till now. However, there is some hope still there.
Gonzaga Bulldogs coach Mark Few has confidently said that they will try their level best to get this match, eventually.
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Well, here you go: Mark Few just said on CBS, "I absolutely think we will" see Gonzaga vs. Baylor happen at some point later this season. Adds he wants to give his players the opportunity to play in this game. "We’ll find a way to play it at some point."
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) December 5, 2020
Mark Few is one of the most reputable coaches in college basketball, so his word should be taken for what he means. Hopefully, we get this massive clash sooner rather than later. Two people from Gonzaga’s camp had tested positive, so Baylor should be moving on with their schedule and Gonzaga should get some clarity on theirs soon.
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Gonzaga Bulldogs: Could this be an issue through the season?
Yes. COVID will be an issue for every single team this season. Even if Gonzaga’s camp isn’t affected again, their opponents might be. There have been multiple games that have been canceled and rescheduled till now. Thankfully, whichever athlete fell sick wasn’t part of the rotation and didn’t play in Gonzaga’s last game against West Virginia.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 26, 2020; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) drives to the basket as Kansas Jayhawks forward David McCormack (33) defends during the first half at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Whether the virus had spread within the locker room is unknown. Up until now, all signs have been good, and it doesn’t seem that the Zags will see this incident have any larger impact on their schedule than it already has.
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But this impact is quite significant. This was a very important game for both teams, and Baylor was heading in with a slight advantage with Jalen Suggs being on a spotty ankle. Now that will get to heal. Hopefully, whenever we see them matchup, it is as exciting a game as the one we prepared for yesterday.
