Gamecocks' down multiple players for Saturday game at Clemson

[FeatheredCock]

Gamecocks' down multiple players for Saturday game at Clemson

Dec. 16, 2021

COVID-19 issues have struck the South Carolina men’s basketball team yet again. On his “Carolina Calls” radio show on Thursday, head coach Frank Martin said that the Gamecocks (8-2) will be down six players on the road against Clemson (7-4) on Saturday due to a combination of COVID-19 issues and injuries. Martin did not say which specific players will be missing due to COVID-19.

Without those six, Gamecocks will have 10 players available. He said forward A.J. Wilson will be one of the missing players after suffering a knee injury Tuesday night against Allen. Martin said he expects Wilson to miss two to three weeks.

It is believed junior guard Jermaine Couisnard (ankle) is one of the six. Couisnard has missed the last two games after rolling his ankle against Georgetown, but Martin hasn’t officially ruled him out for Clemson. Last season, the Gamecocks battled positive COVID-19 tests, shutting down three separate times and canceling the bulk of their non-conference slate in a 6-15 season. Last season’s game against Clemson was canceled due to COVID-19 cases within the Gamecock program.

 

[Gary]

This stinks.   I was hoping we were over Covid affecting games,  but not so fast.    I think the team is being tested again tomorrow.   That might add to the  number of guys who can't play against clemson.  I don't think it will mean we'll get anyone  back for that game.   As of now, we have 10 guys who can still play, and that includes any walk-ons who didn't test positive already..   I'd like to know who is going to be out,, but Frank wouldn't say on his radio show.   Hopefully, there will be more info at his presser tomorrow.    This is really disappointing stuff.  

 

[FeatheredCock]

Yeah it does and this hopefully will not go into league play. Unfortunately most likely will cost the Gamecock to lose to Clemson. Good team I like what Frank has done with this team, this could linger and really put a monkey wrench in all the hard work.. Hate it dang-it....

 

[doublea1971]

I don't know if anyone has been keeping up with the news recently, with regard to Universities around the US, but I would hazard a guess to say that we will not be the last team to be hit like this with another COVID wave.  

Cornell, Princeton and NYU all shut campus down and returned to online classes due to very high case counts.  And all three campuses report at least 98% vaccination rates.  Stanford has announced that students may not hold mass gatherings upon return to campus in January.  Syracuse University announced that all eligible students and employees must get COVID-19 booster shots before the spring term. Students there will  face a round of virus tests when they return, and officials are weighing whether to extend an existing mask mandate.  UMass will also require masks at the start of spring term, and it’s sending students home with a rapid test to be taken near the end of winter break.

Whether we like it or not, the Omicron variant has managed to evade current vaccines.  Fortunately, most who contract the virus are not terribly sick (especially in student populations).  That being said... COVID protocols in sports are going to wreak havoc for a while (either right up to the holiday break, or immediately after it).

I do HATE it for the 'Cocks that we got hit on the early portion of this new wave.  But that may be good in the longer term, as it should help us with immunity during conference play.  UGH...

 

[kingofnerf]

I know the SEC came out earlier in the year and said they would could count game cancellations due to Covid as losses rather than not count them at all as was done last season.

I assume part of the reason for that was to force teams to be vaccinated as much as possible to keep the players safe, but that was also before the variants started popping up.

Covid affects different people in different ways and a heart tissue infection can cause an otherwise healthy person to have a heart attack and/or serious heart damage if they exercise too much.

I wonder if the NCAA/SEC will allow games to be rescheduled in the wake of the Covid variants?

 

[doublea1971]

Was just announced that UCLA v. UNC was cancelled this weekend (was to have been played in Las Vegas) due to COVID issues on the Bruins team.  Ohio State apparently had the same problem, and had left the CBS Sports Classic.  As a result KY and UNC, who were the opponents in both of those matchups will face one another instead.

 

[DamnYankee]

The Pfizer vaccine becomes almost useless after 5 - 6 months,  many young people have become sick with Covid after two shots of Pfizer. I have witnessed it and even the young are getting quite sick with it after having both shots. The booster is a must if you are past 6 months with Pfizer.

 

[Longhaul]

The Pfizer vaccine becomes almost useless after 5 - 6 months,  many young people have become sick with Covid after two shots of Pfizer. I have witnessed it and even the young are getting quite sick with it after having both shots. The booster is a must if you are past 6 months with Pfizer.

Do you mean tested positive or actually showing symptoms and sick?  Also when you say young, what age are you referring to?  

 

[doublea1971]

Do you mean tested positive or actually showing symptoms and sick?  Also when you say young, what age are you referring to?  

I will tell you this, @Longhaul, and won't speak for @DamnYankee... those who received vaccines on campus at USC received the Moderna vaccine, as that was initially the only vaccine that was available on campus at the Student Health Services center.  If I'm not mistaken, that has since changed, and both kinds (Pfizer and Moderna) are now available.  But if the athletes were vaccinated on campus, they would have received Moderna shots (at least for the first two, since there was no "cross-pollenizing" until research showed you could do so).  So in large part, the concerns re: Pfizer that are mentioned are not relevant to this discussion.