Siena basketball opponents also shut down by coronavirus - Times Union

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If the Siena men's basketball team is still going to play in the Mohegan Sun Arena bubble, the Saints are going to have to find different opponents.

With the Saints already in a two-week quarantine because of a pair of positive coronavirus tests last Thursday, two opponents they were supposed to play in the season-opening tournament in Uncasville, Conn. also shut down because of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Massachusetts and Delaware announced they were on pause because of positive tests. The Saints were supposed to open against UMass on Thanksgiving and then play Delaware on Nov. 28, followed by a game against Liberty on Nov. 30.

"All Siena games that were scheduled are out at the moment," texted Greg Procino, vice president of basketball operations for the Basketball Hall of Fame, which is organizing the event known as "Bubbleville" with the Gazelle Group.

"Siena is not coming for original days," Procino texted.  "Trying to adjust games so they come at a later date in the window."

He added Siena would play different opponents that originally scheduled. Those opponents are to be determined.

Siena head coach Carmen Maciariello instructs his players against Rider during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Friday, Feb.14, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: 021520_siena_HP121Hans Pennink/Times Union

"We are still talking with the organizers in the event that we may have a chance to play at the backend of the event," Siena athletic director John D'Argenio confirmed in a text.

"Bubbleville" runs from next Wednesday through Dec. 5, featuring more than 30 teams and 40 games in a fanless environment.

It was going to be virtually impossible for Siena to be ready to play the games as scheduled from Thanksgiving to Nov. 30. Head coach Carmen Maciariello told 104.5 FM in his weekly appearance on Tuesday he hopes to have his players can resume some activity on Nov. 27 or 28, after the team is out of quarantine.

UMass and Delaware should take even longer to get back because their shutdowns likely wouldn't end until around Dec. 1, if they're also out two weeks.

Maciariello told 104.5 the Saints still plan to play a nonleague game at Drexel on Dec. 22, followed by another against an undetermined foe on Dec. 28 or 29. He didn't mention Mohegan Sun in his radio appearance and didn't return a message afterward.

If Siena can't reschedule the Mohegan Sun games,  it's possible the season opener could be the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opening weekend at Fairfield on Dec. 11 and 12.

The Saints already had their nonleague game at Vermont on Dec. 6 canceled when Vermont decided not to play any winter sports  until Dec. 18, at the earliest.

msingelais@timesunion.com • 518-454-5509 • @MarkSingelais

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