NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 18th ranked Tennessee Basketball's game against in-state rival Memphis was cancelled on Saturday due to COVID-19 issues within the Tigers program.
Earlier today, Memphis announced it's game scheduled for Tuesday with Alabama State was also canceled.
Today, Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway spoke to the media on the ongoing issues.
Hardaway confirmed only four Memphis players were available on Saturday against the Vols. He describe the events on Saturday morning leading up to the cancellation.
"We went through our normal breakfast walkthrough at 7:00 a.m." Hardaway said. "After the breakfast walkthrough, everything seemed fine. After breakfast, Tyler (Harris) and Landers (Nolley II) said they weren't feeling well to the trainer. The protocol is if kids aren't feeling well, to test them. They tested them and they came back positive... and they tested them two more times and they were positive both times."
Hardaway said unvaccinated players also had to sit out of Saturday's game.
Earlier this season he said 90% of his players were vaccinated.
On Sunday, Hardaway backtracked on those comments.
"Initially when I talked to the guys earlier, they were all talking about being vaccinated." Hardaway said. "And then I never visited it again, so I probably misspoke, but a lot of the guys were talking about it back then and I never thought about it again after that."
Hardaway says he hopes to reschedule the game with Tennessee.
