New Year’s Eve basketball game postponed

Men’s basketball’s next matchup is Jan. 2 against University of Arizona

Cougars+head+coach+Kyle+Smith+high-fives+his+players+after+a+win.

OLIVER MCKENNA | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Cougars head coach Kyle Smith high-fives his players after a win.

RYAN ROOT, Evergreen reporter

Fans will have to wait a little longer for the return of WSU men’s basketball as the Cougars’ matchup against Arizona State University, originally on New Year’s Eve, has been postponed.

WSU head coach Kyle Smith held his weekly press conference this morning and said the team is excited to get back on the court this week. Smith didn’t mention any developments of the coronavirus within the team during the presser.

According to a statement released by WSU Athletics, the postponement was due to “COVID-19 protocol developments within the Arizona State basketball program.” This is ASU’s second straight postponement due to COVID-19 after the team wasn’t able to face the Utah Utes on Dec. 22.

However, this is the first time ASU has had a postponed game because of the coronavirus within their program, as the game against Utah was delayed due to a confirmed case from the Utes.

According to the statement, “The Pac-12 conference will work with both programs to attempt to find a mutually agreeable date to reschedule the contest.”

WSU’s next contest will be against the University of Arizona Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2 in Beasley Coliseum. This is the Cougars’ final scheduled home game in their nine-game stretch to start the season.

The Wildcats have had two postponements so far this season, the most recent one on Dec. 2. The team is still set to face the University of Washington on New Year’s Eve with no signs of postponing the game thus far.