University of Houston’s men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson on Thursday shared that his entire roster has tested positive for COVID-19.
A total of 15 members of the team and some members of the coaching staff have also tested positive for the virus over the course of this year the coach reported, according to The Washington Post.
Some of the team attended practice on Tuesday, following a recent outbreak that caused a pause in practices. Only six players were at practice Tuesday through Thursday this week, though Sampson said he hopes to have eight or nine return in time for Sunday’s game against Alcorn State, the Post reported.
“The benefit is just trying to get some rhythm going into conference play,” Sampson said during a media call Thursday, according to the news outlet. “The guys that are healthy are healthy, there’s no reason why they can’t play. Most of them have already tested positive, they’ve gone through isolation, and they’ve passed all the tests and then they’ve had consecutive negative tests after that.”
Sampson said that he is aware that his players may not be in the best shape due to the time they have spent away from practice.
“The guys that have been out for 10 days, they’re out of shape, it’s simple as that,” he said. “It’ll take a while, but that’s why this year is what it is. There’s nothing you can do about it. When you’re isolated in your room, I don’t know what you can do to stay in shape.”
Sampson said that at this point he is less concerned about the team’s No. 6 national ranking.
“Let’s face it that means nothing, we haven’t earned that. We’ve been ranked enough over the years to know that if you don’t play, it means you don’t lose,” he said. “The last time that I saw these kids in a game was Nov. 29. This is this unprecedented.”
Houston postponed games against Sam Houston State and Rice earlier this month. The team was set to play against Alabama on Saturday, but that has also been canceled, the Post reported.