The upcoming basketball game between UNC and No. 4 UCLA in Las Vegas has been cancelled due to COVID protocols within the Bruins’ program. The announcement comes fewer than 48 hours before the game’s tip-off, scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. No make-up date will be pursued.

UCLA had previously cancelled its Wednesday game against Alabama State the day of the game, citing COVID protocols. A previous announcement said Bruins head coach Mick Cronin would miss the Alabama State game due to a positive test, but UCLA still planned to play before the game’s subsequent cancellation.

Carolina will now face Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Wildcats’ game against Ohio State, scheduled for the same day, had previously been cancelled due to COVID protocols within the Buckeyes’ program.

This is the second straight season in which UNC’s participation in the annual CBS Sports Classic has been affected by the pandemic. During the 2020-21 season, Carolina was scheduled to play Ohio State in the event, before a last-minute switch had the Tar Heels play Kentucky. Carolina won that game, 75-63.

This is the first UNC game cancelled due to COVID this season, and it comes amid a spike across major sports leagues, which has seen numerous match cancellations in the English Premier League and rising cases in the NFL and NHL. Carolina had four games cancelled due to COVID in the 2020-21 season.

This announcement also comes the same week the UNC women’s basketball team had its game against Jacksonville cancelled, due to COVID protocols within the Dolphins’ program.

 

Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill

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