Mike Schwartz I was on the phone on Wednesday night. The Tennessee Basketball Associate Head Coach appeared on Vol Network’s weekly coach radio show Vol Calls when he should have been on the bench at the Thompson Bowling Arena.
It should have been close to half-time for the season opener against Charlotte at the Thompson Bowling Arena in Tennessee, just before 9pm Eastern Standard Time. Instead, Vols was on the sidelines by multiple positive COVID tests on Sunday, forcing a 14-day suspension of team activity and cancellation of four games in the first two weeks of the new season.
Currently Charlotte, VCU, No. After removing 1 Gonzaga, Notre Dame from the slate, Schwartz and Tennessee are trying to make up for the lost time and lost games.
“We’re basically trying to add some of these games during December,” said Schwartz, a former associate head coach who is responsible for the Tennessee schedule. Rob Lanier He left to take over as head coach of Georgia State University. “Once again, we are actively working to do that.
“We are in a conversation and will (add a game). We don’t have a specific date or opponent yet. But our absolute goal is to reach the maximum number of games. Hopefully sooner or later. You’ll win them. The dates are full. “
Athletic director Philip Fulmar, WHO Made his own appearance on VolCallsAsked for patience when it came to the news schedule.He said he talked to the head coach Rick Barnes Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. He said the chance was there, but first Vols had to go past their return date on December 5th, and then see what’s available.
In short, it’s a mess. According to Schwartz, 126 college basketball teams influenced the game this week, the first week of the season. But that’s the mess that Vols has prepared as much as possible.
“We talked about what you know, everyone goes into this,” he said. “You knew it would be scrambled, and the team will pick up the game at the last minute. You don’t know who you’re going to play on Monday, and you might play that team on Wednesday. I prepared for this, but I don’t know until it comes in front of me.
“Honestly, it’s never been this way. Scheduling was done over a year ago and now, needless to say, we picked up our opponents a few weeks ago. But we know One of the things that everyone wants to do is that everyone wants to play. Our coaching staff wants to play. All coaching staff and all players in college basketball want to play games. . “
Currently, Tennessee’s next match will be on December 12, and a home date with Cincinnati will take place at the Thompson-Bowling Arena. Vols is currently hosting a total of four non-conference games next month: Cincinnati, Appalachian (December 15), Tennessee (December 19), and USC Upstate (December 22), December 30. SEC play begins in Missouri on the day.
“Everyone knows that two games this week and two games next week can be affected by the situation,” Schwartz said. So this is the positive point. There are many teams, including us, looking for games. From December 5th to December 29th. “
While Vols was waiting, Schwartz said they would remain positive. For example, he said Wednesday the season for many teams across the country began. And that’s a good sign.
“Yes, it’s late at first, but it never affects the end,” Schwartz said. “This doesn’t affect the finish line. Looking at all the sports, Major League Baseball, NFL, college football and NBA that we tried to advance during this pandemic, everyone is facing a delay at a certain point in time. I will.
“So we make no difference. But positive things have begun today. Some of these obstacles need to be addressed.”
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