Runnin’ Utes’ game at Arizona State Thursday postponed due to COVID-19 issues in ASU program

Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith talks to his crew throughout a media timeout in a males’s basketball recreation in opposition to the Fresno State Bulldogs on the Huntsman Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. Utah received 55-50.

Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information

It appeared inevitable that the College of Utah would have no less than one in all its Pac-12 males’s basketball video games postponed by COVID-19 points as one of many few applications within the league that hasn’t had a recreation postponed by final weekend.

That turned actuality Monday night time because the Runnin’ Utes’ recreation Thursday at Arizona State was postponed on account of “well being and security protocols” throughout the Solar Devils’ program.

“Each applications will work along side the Pac-12 Convention workplace to find out a mutually agreeable date to reschedule the competition,” learn a Utah information launch.

It's the fifth recreation that ASU has needed to postpone or cancel this season.

As of Monday, Utah’s recreation at No. 6 Arizona on Saturday continues to be on the schedule. Tipoff at McKale Memorial Middle in Tucson, Arizona, is ready for six p.m. MST.

The postponement doesn't come at a foul time for the Utes, who're 1-5 in Pac-12 play, 8-8 general, and have misplaced 4 straight video games. They misplaced 77-61 to Washington State on Saturday and performed with out star heart Branden Carlson, who had an appendectomy on Saturday and may very well be out a pair weeks, on the minimal.

However, Utah’s subsequent three video games at the moment are in opposition to nationally ranked groups. After going through the Wildcats, the Utes return to the Huntsman Middle subsequent week to host No. 3 UCLA on January 20 and No. 5 USC on January 22.