Detroit Mercy basketball cancels trip to Kentucky due to COVID-19 positive test
The Detroit Mercy men's basketball team will not face Kentucky basketball this week.
The Titans announced the cancellation of their trip to Kentucky to play in the Bluegrass Classic due to a positive COVID-19 test from a support staff member.
The staffer, now in quarantine, is not experiencing any symptoms, according to the university. Multiple members of the team are in isolation due to close contact tracing, but no players or coaches tested positive.
The Titans were scheduled to play three games in Lexington, Kentucky: Richmond on Wednesday in the season opener, No. 9 Kentucky on Friday and Moorhead State on Sunday.
Brad Calipari, son of Kentucky coach John Calipari, is on the Titans' roster, but won't get to play against his legendary father's team — for now. He's a 6-foot, 180-pound graduate student.
The Titans are hopeful to make up the canceled games at a later date.
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"We believe the decision to cancel our games and not travel is best for everyone's health and safety," said director of athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr. in a statement Monday. "We have had no positive tests with both our men's and women's basketball programs since we started our testing requirements in early October. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have done a great job abiding by all the guidelines put forth, but with the rise in positive cases across the country, it, unfortunately, was able to get inside our program. At this point, we are hopeful that it is isolated to one individual and we will take the time this week to make sure everyone stays healthy and tests negative and hope to start our season next week."
“Even though this is the right decision, as a father I’m still disappointed,” John Calipari tweeted Monday night. “Was really looking forward to having @bradcalipari back this week. BUT we will reschedule the game & he’ll have an opportunity to play in @Rupp_Arena. At this point, I just hope their team remains healthy.”
Even though this is the right decision, as a father I’m still disappointed. Was really looking forward to having @bradcalipari back this week, BUT we will reschedule the game & he’ll have an opportunity to play in @Rupp_Arena. At this point I just hope their team remains healthy. https://t.co/JETnyEotGu
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) November 24, 2020
Detroit Mercy's next schedule game is Dec. 4 at No. 12 Michigan State in East Lansing.
The Titans are coming off an 8-23 season, and are led by third-year coach Mike Davis. His son, Antoine Davis, has been one of the NCAA's leading scorers the past two seasons, averaging 26.1 points as a freshman (third in the nation) and 24.3 points as a sophomore (fourth in the nation). His 132 3-pointers in 2018-19 are an NCAA freshman record, breaking the mark held by Stephen Curry at Davidson.
The Titans were banned from postseason play last season due to poor academics.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Mercy basketball cancels trip to Kentucky due to COVID-19
