NC State has put its men’s basketball season on pause on Wednesday.
The Wolfpack had to cancel a game against Connecticut this past Saturday after two members of its travel party had tested positive for COVID-19.
Between the players, staff and administrative support group there are 35 people in the travel party. NC State has not said if the positive tests were by players.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes and staff remains our unwavering priority,” said NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said in a statement released by the school. “We will continue to work with all appropriate parties and adhere to ACC, campus and local protocols to make the most responsible decisions moving forward.”
NC State was scheduled to face Michigan in an ACC-Big Ten Challenge game on Wednesday but that game was officially postponed although it is unlikely to be rescheduled.
The Wolfpack, 3-0 on the season, will not play its scheduled game with Florida Atlantic on Saturday. It has not provided a timeline for a restart.
If any of the players have tested positive, they will have to remain in isolation for 10 days from the time of the initial positive test.
The school has said a member of the travel party tested positive in Uncasville, Conn. on Dec. 4. NC State beat UMass-Lowell in a game in Uncasville on Dec. 3.
The contact-tracing guidelines — for players exposed to a person with a positive test — have recently been changed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The contact-tracing protocols are now a 7-day window. During the ACC football season, the contact-tracing protocol was a 14-day window.
NC State is scheduled to open ACC play on Dec. 16 at Louisville. The Cardinals program is also on pause due to COVID-19 issues.
“This was a difficult, but ultimately necessary decision for our program,” coach Kevin Keatts said in a statement released by the school. “The health and safety of our student-athletes and staff will always come first. After consulting with our medical team, we decided the appropriate measure was to pause all team activities effective immediately.”
