/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67912993/usa_today_14151115.0.jpg)
The Gonzaga Bulldogs will not be facing off against the Tennessee Volunteers on Dec. 2, in Indianapolis.
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) November 24, 2020
The Volunteers are currently dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak affecting players and key personnel. Head coach Rick Barnes is one of the positive cases and is currently quarantining.
Gonzaga and the No. 12-ranked Vols were scheduled to play as part of the Jimmy V Classic, one of the few holdovers from Gonzaga’s originally planned non-conference slate. The game was initially scheduled to take place in New York City, then moved to Florida, before finally settling in Indianapolis. Currently, Baylor and Illinois are set to take part in the second-half of the game.
As one of the more premiere ESPN non-conference showcases, one would expect this game to be filled, but then again, in a year of sheer insanity, expectations mean little. The college basketball season is starting in 48 hours, and teams are working willy-nilly to try and piece together something looking like a complete season.
Gonzaga’s season kicks-off against Kansas on Thursday, followed by a game against Auburn. So far, the news out of those programs is all things are good-to-go. Even if the Tennessee game remains unfilled, the Zags will still face off against Iowa and Baylor as part of their non-conference slate.