2020-21 Preseason

In Washington, pro and college sports are still allowed to operate under the new guidelines due to the rigorous covid protocols they already must follow (regular testing, contact tracing, masks, etc). So Gonzaga is full steam ahead unless someone tests positive and then they would have to follow NCAA protocols. Stay tuned.

So the Pilots can practice in WA under state protocols?

optimist wrote:In Washington, pro and college sports are still allowed to operate under the new guidelines due to the rigorous covid protocols they already must follow (regular testing, contact tracing, masks, etc).  So Gonzaga is full steam ahead unless someone tests positive and then they would have to follow NCAA protocols.  Stay tuned.

Geezaldinho wrote:So the Pilots can practice in WA under state protocols?

Yes, the Pilots can practice in Washington! optimist is correct, pro teams and college teams are exempt...otherwise UW and WSU would have to shut down their football...

Michigan also exempted their colleges from their latest shutdown rules/laws, although UM and MSU could probably use a pause from their dreadful seasons.

@@johncanzanobft wrote:University of Portland and Portland State submitted paperwork for their exemptions to scrimmage/play men's and women's basketball a couple of weeks ago.

Gov. Kate Brown's office reviewed the application and kicked back UP’s paperwork w feedback. Will do the same for PSU today.

Source in Salem said this is customary and how Oregon and OSU men's and women's basketball programs were approved for their exemptions. Source expects UP and PSU to get exemption in "a couple of days." The Vikings play a game at Washington in nine days.

Another step closer, it appears.

One member of a basketball program (not necessarily a player) goes down with COVID-19 and everyone must isolate for 14 days...IMO this will continue to happen for several months and we will see many games canceled as a result:

A member of the University of San Diego's men’s basketball program tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and as a result the Toreros have paused all team activity for 14 days...

USD was scheduled to open the season next Wednesday against Cal State Fullerton at a tournament in Seattle. That game has been canceled, as were the other two games in the event, against Washington and Portland State.

USD was scheduled to play at UC Irvine on Dec. 2 and host Fullerton on Dec. 8. The Toreros will attempt to reschedule those games. The Toreros are scheduled to open West Coast Conference play at USF on New Year’s Eve.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/toreros/story/2020-11-20/usd-pauses-mens-hoops-after-positive-covid-19-test

DoubleDipper wrote:One member of a basketball program (not necessarily a player) goes down with COVID-19 and everyone must isolate for 14 days...IMO this will continue to happen for several months and we will see many games canceled as a result.

UW MTE is canceled.

DoubleDipper wrote:UW MTE is canceled.

Perfect! That means Portland State can go play in Oregon State's MTE because Colorado State had to pull out. But only if PSU can get an exemption to play in the next few days

@GoodmanHoops wrote:Oregon State and Cal looking for opening day opponent for MTE with Colorado State shutdown, per source.

Remind me again why they went the MTE route? Why in the world did they not just scrap the MTEs for a year and just set a 26-game or 27-game cap?

Dean Murdoch wrote:Remind me again why they went the MTE route? Why in the world did they not just scrap the MTEs for a year and just set a 26-game or 27-game cap?

In addition to all eight teams from the Ivy League being shutdown for the  season, an online search this morning revealed 32 additional D1 teams are not practicing or playing due to COVID-19 restrictions.

On the bright side, that means approximately 88% of all D1 teams are still up and running...

Talking with one of the UP assistants this morning about COVID testing, and apparently the budget for the UP students and staff (not just student-athletes) for COVID testing next semester, which begins on January 25, is $2 million!!

If all goes as planned the dorms will be at less than 50% capacity and rapid testing (15 minutes) will be used.

One of the concerns for all the athletic teams we may have overlooked is the travel and testing of game officials, and who steps in to help out when basketball, for instance, is down to just one official because the others are completing their 14-day quarantine after a positive test or contact tracing takes them out of the game.

And what about the other essential operations people such as time keepers, and score board operators, etc?

Seems to me coaches could do all the jobs, and if they do, they'll probably have a lot more empathy and respect for the game officials who do it day and day out...

Eastern Washington is schedule to play at #20 Oregon on November 25th, but that game is now in jeopardy as two EWU starters have tested positive.

The Pilots have an open date on November 25th...just saying.  

DoubleDipper wrote:The Pilots have an open date on November 25th...just saying.  

UO wants to play PSU?

UO, OSU, and UW want to play PSU?  

UP is cleared to play, PSU is not...

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/john_canzano/2020/11/canzano-oregon-gov-kate-brown-now-putting-all-college-basketball-programs-in-state-at-disadvantage.html

Apparently Oregon Governor Brown has a meeting Wednesday morning to review PSU's application for an exemption so the Vikings can play the Beavers and Ducks on Friday and Saturday...

All of a sudden, it's game day!!  

UP's game against Idaho on Friday has been canceled due to COVID concerns...

Instead, the Pilots will open the season tonight, Wednesday November 25 against Seattle U. in the Chiles Center at 8 pm.

You should be able to watch the game here: https://watchstadium.com/live/seattle-university-at-portland/

Here's the tentative MTE schedule for the week:

Wednesday, Nov. 25 Portland vs. Seattle U. 8:00 pm
Friday, Nov. 27 Seattle U vs. William Jessup 12 noon
Saturday, Nov. 28 Portland vs. William Jessup 12 noon
Sunday, Nov. 29 Portland vs. Northwest 12:00 noon

(As a result of the change, UP and Seattle U. are now scheduled play one another three times over the next five weeks).

Hell ya! But three times...ugggg....my guess is there will be a switch in there somewhere. Crazy, but exciting nonetheless.

Let the tip off begin!

optimist wrote:Hell ya!  But three times...ugggg....my guess is there will be a switch in there somewhere.  Crazy, but exciting nonetheless.

The December 19th game in Seattle has been dropped from the schedule and the December 30 game against Seattle U has be moved from Portland to Seattle and will not be televised as originally planned.

Dec 5 Portland St. @ 7pm
Dec 10 @ Oregon St. @ 5pm (TV - Pac12 Network)
Dec 22 Montana St. @ noon (TV - NBC Sports NW)
Dec 30 @ Seattle U. @ 6pm