As Ref. 3 Villanova enters 3rd stop COVID-19, Jay Wright says’ Brutal ‘for players’ mental health

As Villanova kicks off the third stop at COVID-19 this season, head coach Jay Wright says it is “brutal” for the mental health of his players.

“I saw that this one was very sad for them,” Wright, 59, said Monday on a Zoom call with reporters. “They were only out of quarantine for a day and a half. They got back to their flats for a day and a half. Now they got back [to their hotel rooms]. It’s brutal. ”

Villanova’s latest stop was announced Monday, just one day after the team returned to practice after a second stop. The first stop occurred during the previous season in September “after some unknown members of their program tested positive for COVID-19,” all Philadelphia researchers said.

Wright said this latest stop was triggered when two players tested positive and are now showing signs of failure.

“There is a chance that one or two others could be positive [Tuesday], ”Wright said, the latest stop could last“ at least ”10 days.

Villanova (8-1, 3-0 Big East) announced Monday that he is postponing three upcoming games: at DePaul on Tuesday; vs Marquette Friday; and at Xavier on Jan. 13. No makeup date was announced. Their next scheduled game is January 15 at UConn and then Seton Hall on January 19th.

The program on Dec. 27 announced that Wright and one other employee had been positive, but the program returned Sunday.

Wright, who has led the Wildcats to two of the last four NCAA tournaments, said he blames himself for this latest stop but is unsure how he got it.

“I don’t know how I got it,” he said. “I didn’t go out to work, I didn’t go anywhere. The sad thing is that this started with me and now the players have to go through this. That’s the really difficult part of this. “

He said before Sunday that the team had gone nine days in a row without any positive tests. Between December 26-January. 2, players had been alone in separate hotel rooms. After coming out Sunday, they must now return.

“They’re in a hotel room on their own, that’s very sad,” he said. “Being alone is even worse, it’s for the infected.”

The Villanova news came down the same day that Duke Mike Krzyzewski announced that he and his wife Mickie were in quarantine after a positive family member. Coach K said he and his wife passed a negative test on Monday, but will not coach again until Saturday ‘s game with Wake Forest anyway.

Prior to the season, coach Iona Rick Pitino claimed he would stop at the start of the season and play the NCAA Tournament with “May Madness.” Wright said that is no longer an option.

“We’re committed to a timeline,” he said of the NCAA Tournament, which is now completely slated in Indiana.

“I think we had the opportunity for May Madness a week or two ago, that was an option. He said: “Everyone is trying to do their best. This is a pandemic. This virus is so contagious. ”

When asked if his players would ever vote to cancel or postpone the season, he said, “They tell me emphatically, ‘We sat at home all spring, all the time. summer. We were home with our families, we didn’t get a chance to play, which is why we want to do it. We just want to play. ‘”

ST. ACTIVITIES OF JOHN RESUMES

St. John’s announced Monday that they are starting basketball activities after canceling Saturday’s game with DePaul.

“After extensive and complete testing of the Tier One staff of the men’s basketball program, it was decided that tests and laboratory irregularities were the reason for last Saturday’s game being postponed. Saturday against DePaul, ”the school announced. “Following that decision, team doctors and University health officials have agreed that the full program can begin operations. ”

“First, let me begin by thanking our medical staff and University health officials, in particular Dr Justin Classie, Dr Kathryn Hutchinson and Jill Christensen, for their guidance and leadership throughout. This is challenging, ”said the Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. “While the decision to postpone Saturday’s game was a sad one, we remain confident we have made the right choice. To be sure, we are so pleased and pleased that follow – up testing has delivered good news and that we are ready to resume our schedule. ”

St. John’s will start playing Wednesday at Xavier. The schedule for 8pm is on CBS Sports Network.