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Update 2:00 p.m. The Big 12 has made it official the game is off.
The Kansas Jayhawks have a positive COVID-19 test within their program, and will be forced to withdraw from the Big 12 Championship ahead of their semifinal game tonight against the Texas Longhorns.
BREAKING—Kansas has a player who’s tested positive for COVID and has been removed from the Big 12 Tournament, sources tell @CBSSports. Jayhawks were supposed to play Texas tonight in the semis.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 12, 2021
KU kept two players home due to COVID protocols, prior to leaving for Kansas City.
Kansas had already left star junior forward David McCormack home because of COVID-19 protocols, as well as sophomore guard Tristan Enaruna.
With the positive test, the winner of tonight’s Oklahoma State vs. Baylor game will play the Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday night.
Kansas is ranked No. 11 in the current AP Poll, and was expected to receive a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. Teams have until 11 p.m. tomorrow evening to inform the NCAA if they’re unable to participate in March Madness.
This would be a devastating end to the season for the Jayhawks, and it might be their last chance at The Big Dance for awhile, as the cloud of an ongoing NCAA investigation continues to hang over the program.