Virginia out of 2021 ACC Tournament: Positive COVID test for UVA

The Georgia Tech vs. Virginia ACC Tournament semifinal game has been canceled. The cancellation follows a positive COVID-19 test, subsequent quarantining, and contact tracing within the Virginia men’s basketball program.

With the cancellation Georgia Tech advances to the ACC Tournament championship game and will play the winner of tonight’s Florida State vs. North Carolina game that will now tip at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

The news comes on the heels of Duke having to bow out of the tournament a day earlier after a positive test in its program.

“I’m heartbroken for our student-athletes, coaches and support staff at both Duke and Virginia,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said. “Our teams have worked incredibly hard and sacrificed so much throughout this season. We continue to be led by our ACC Medical Advisory Group and the protocols put in place that have allowed our teams to safely compete during the 2020-21 season. We will follow the lead of our medical personnel to ensure the health and safety of our programs remain the top priority. Our student-athletes and schools have been remarkable this entire season while enduring incredibly challenging circumstances.”

Virginia’s status for the 2021 NCAA Tournament is to be determined.

“We went from an exhilarating game-winning shot to beat Syracuse to a gut punch regarding the positive COVID-19 test within our program,” UVA coach Tony Bennett said. “I’m hurting for our players, especially our seniors. I told our young men they have every reason to be disappointed, but it is still very important how they choose to respond. We are exhausting all options to participate in the NCAA Tournament.”

“This is incredibly disappointing for our players,” Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams said. “They have done what has been asked of them in very challenging circumstances. It is unfortunate the ACC Tournament has concluded for us, but we have turned our attention to the NCAA Tournament. We are in communication with the appropriate officials regarding our participation.”