There should be no COVID testing for the Final Fours.

Although her team lost a controversial game to UConn in the Elite 8, Baylor women’s coach Kim Mulkey is saying what many others are thinking.

With this being the last weekend of college basketball for the men and women, why risk one team having to forfeit a game because of a positive COVID test.

Such a happening would virtually destroy whichever Final Four it happened to, with one team automatically advancing to the championship game or another team winning the championship on a forfeit. That would ruin what turned out to be a gallant effort by everyone to get through the basketball season.

Sure, if any of the players are really sick and cannot participate, they should sit out of the game like with any other illness or injury. With the danger of infecting other players having proven to be minimal, and with no games left to play, everyone would have plenty of time to go into quarantine if there were a positive test reported afterward.

All of the participating players and coaches had their noses swabbed every 6 hours, but even with fans in the stands and close contact from families, there hasn’t been a positive test reported after VCU had to forfeit its first round game in the men’s tournament.

No question that the medical staffs and trainers and coaches and all the schools did a great job keeping their players safe and healthy enough to complete the season, despite periodic pauses several programs had.

You could still argue that the tournaments went on for the almighty dollar, and I would probably agree with you. But now that we’re right on the verge of having two champions crowned, the lasting memory of having one team eliminated without playing would almost nullify all the good work that was done leading up to the Final Fours.

The protocols and testing were to protect the health of the participants and the future of the seasons. Now they are ending, full scale health care could go into effect for anyone who does test positive after the nets are cut down.

So, let the games go on regardless.


Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.