Virus Bounces VCU From NCAA Tournament; Oregon Advances

Mar 20, 2021, 5:20 PM

A general view of a 'March Madness' logo is seen during practice before the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 20, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sports Producer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — VCU has been pulled from the NCAA Tournament because of COVID-19 protocols.

The NCAA says the 10th-seeded Rams’ first-round game Saturday against Oregon has been declared a no-contest.

The seventh-seeded Ducks will advance to the second round without playing.

The NCAA MBB Committee has declared the VCU-Oregon game a no-contest because of COVID-19 protocols.

As a result, Oregon will advance. pic.twitter.com/75PFpk8TbC

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 20, 2021

The announcement came a little more than three hours before the teams were set to play in the West Region. The NCAA didn’t offer specific details, citing privacy concerns, and said that the decision came after consultation with the Marion County Public Health Department.

“The NCAA and the committee regret that VCU’s student-athletes and coaching staff will not be able to play in a tournament in which they earned the right to participate,” the statement read.

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