Nebraska has been hit hard by the coronavirus in the last 10 days.
The program announced on Sunday that its Jan. 20 home meeting with Minnesota and Jan. 24 road contest with Iowa have both been postponed following seven confirmed positive COVID-19 tests with players on the Nebraska roster and a confirmed positive test from head coach Fred Hoiberg. A total of 12 individuals in the program are in isolation or quarantine per CDC, Big Ten, and Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department guidelines. The program said roughly 30% of all Tier 1 team members (players, coaches, and staff with daily contact with the team) have returned a positive test in the last seven days. Nebraska is in the Red/Red category of the Big Ten’s testing thresholds.
Hoiberg shared the news on Twitter Sunday afternoon.
— Fred Hoiberg (@CoachHoiberg) January 17, 2021
Hoiberg said he is experiencing symptoms but his condition has improved in the last 24 hours.
“We have taken a pause from all basketball-related activities and will return only when it is absolutely safe to do so,” Hoiberg said. The head coach has had multiple heart operations since his 2005 diagnosis of an aortic root aneurysm. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of social responsibility by wearing your mask and keeping proper social distance. Please stay safe and healthy.
Nebraska previously postponed its last two matchups with Illinois and Maryland due to COVID-19. The schools previously said they would work with the conference to “identify rescheduling options.” The program says a determination on games beyond the Jan. 24 date has not yet been made. The Huskers will remain paused for a minimum of seven more days.
Nebraska is 4-8 on the season, including 0-5 in Big Ten play.
