Bradley men's basketball has positive COVID tests; Bellarmine game canceled
PEORIA — Bradley basketball ran into an opponent it couldn't beat Monday.
COVID.
The Braves canceled their Wednesday, Dec. 29, game against Bellarmine after positive COVID tests surfaced among Bradley's Tier-I personnel following the holiday break. The BU program was 100 percent vaccinated among its Tier-I personnel, which includes players.
A university spokesman could not confirm if any players are among the positive tests.
Bellarmine was to be the 7-6 Braves' nonconference finale Wednesday at Carver Arena. Instead, BU will head straight to the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, with a game set for Sunday, Jan. 2, at Indiana State. That game is still on as scheduled.
'We can beat anybody': What we learned from Bradley basketball's Sun Bowl sweep
The Braves will resume practices later this week with players and other Tier-I personnel who are healthy.
"We want to keep playing, of course," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said Monday. "We're building momentum, enjoying success going into the conference schedule and these games have been important.
"But we can't control these things. We have to follow the protocols and do what is necessary."
The Braves have won six of their last seven, including the Sun Bowl Invitational championship in Texas last week.
"My biggest concern right now is to keep our guys moving toward being more connected to each other and preparing to play," Wardle said. "That's an ongoing process."
Emerging protocols
The CDC on Monday evening revised its quarantine protocols for people testing positive to five days, down from 10.
The agency said those testing positive for COVID-19 can isolate for five days, instead of 10, if showing no symptoms. The shorter isolation should then be followed by five days of wearing a mask around others.
Bradley says it follows the COVID protocols suggested by the Missouri Valley Conference.
"Our protocols are taken from the NCAA, that's what we follow," MVC associate commissioner Mike Kern said. "And the NCAA follows the guidelines set forth by the CDC."
In other words the Valley — and Bradley — will be looking at five-day quarantine protocols instead of 10, just as soon as the new guidelines can trickle down.
"We have a meeting (Tuesday) in the Valley and these new guidelines will be part of the discussion," Kern said.
Valparaiso, Southern Illinois, Bradley and Northern Iowa all have games canceled or postponed this week.
On the season, eight Valley teams -- Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Indiana State, UNI, Southern Illinois, Valparaiso, and Loyola -- have had non-conference games impacted by COVID pauses.
Monday's cancelation of the Bradley game brought the league total to 13 (9 canceled, 1 re-scheduled, 3 replaced with new opponents).
High school pauses: COVID-19 pauses competition for another high school basketball team in Peoria
What happens with Bellarmine tickets?
Those who purchased tickets to the Wednesday game against Bellarmine (via season tickets, mini-plans or single-game purchases) can exchange their tickets for additional seats to any remaining Bradley home game during the 2021-22 season.
Bellarmine game tickets will be redeemed in the same quantity and can be used by anyone the customer chooses.
Tickets can be exchanged at the Bradley athletics ticket office inside Renaissance Coliseum starting Tuesday, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).
Those with digital tickets can submit a claim on a special online form to have tickets automatically uploaded into one's account.
Tickets can be exchanged anytime during the remainder of the season. Ticket locations are not guaranteed.
Call the Bradley ticket office at (309) 677-2625 for questions or details.
Terry Roberts sweeps Valley honors
Bradley junior guard Terry Roberts swept a pair of Missouri Valley Conference honors on Monday when he was named Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week.
Roberts was MVP at the 2021 WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, and led BU to the tournament title. He averaged 24.5 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1 steal in the two wins as BU claimed its sixth regular-season tournament title in school history.
Roberts is the 23rd player in Valley history to sweep the player and newcomer weekly award and just the second Braves player to accomplish the feat, following Darrell Brown (November 2016).
Roberts has been named Newcomer of the Week twice already, and finished December shooting 54.2% from the field and averaging 20 points per game. He reached at least 20 points in four of his six outings.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NCAA Bradley basketball positive COVID tests; Bellarmine game canceled
