SPORTS: COVID and athletics | Photo by Christian Peters | The Wright State Guardian
While fans are back in attendance for NCAA athletics and some regulations are starting to lift, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on Wright State University (WSU) basketball off the court in recent weeks.
The pandemic hit the women’s basketball season harder than the men’s as the women’s team was forced to cancel eight games in December, including four conference games that were ruled as forfeits.
While the worst of the disease seems to have passed through the program, more cancellations and postponed games could be in the future.
“I think at this point, it’s more on the other teams canceling,” Kari Hoffman, head coach of women’s basketball at WSU, said. “We’re not really worried about it, but it’s something we can’t quite control.”
Impact on the women’s team
The women’s team was forced to forfeit four of five of their canceled games, as ruled by the Horizon League (HL) commissioner.
All four of those forfeited games were at home, meaning that the Lady Raiders didn’t play their first home conference game until about two and a half months into the season.
“We were very disappointed,” Edicia Beck, a forward for the women’s team, said. “I mean, we wanted to play some league games to get better.”
But, according to Hoffman, the virus already going through the team means they will be less likely to forfeit any more games this season.
“We will have enough players probably for the rest of the season,” Hoffman said. “It’s just run through our team in December at this point.”
Impact on the men’s team
While the men’s team has been able to play all of its games so far, due to four players out with injuries and another four out due to COVID protocols, they were forced to play two conference games shorthanded.
This seven-man roster was able to barely score a win against the Robert Morris Colonials and ended up losing to the Youngstown State Penguins, 87-90.
“The teams that deal with it the best and don’t use it as an excuse will do better,” head coach Scott Nagy said, refusing to make excuses for the loss.
The team lost by three points while missing two starters and two other seasoned shooters due to those players being exposed to COVID.
With that loss moving the Raiders to 8-2 in league play, the game against Youngstown could be the difference in a regular-season championship, with both the Oakland Golden Grizzlies and the Cleveland State Vikings at 8-1.
But, with their players back in the active roster as well, the men’s team looks set to play with a full roster for the rest of the season.
“It was definitely nice to get our guys back,” Grant Basile, a forward for the men’s team, said after their recent win over IUPUI. “It gave them a little confidence. I think everyone played well, and we had a good week of practice. I think we’re ready.”
