Tennessee Tech men’s hoops has schedule change

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Tennessee Tech men’s basketball team has its first schedule change of the season because of COVID-19 issues.

The Golden Eagles have postponed Thursday night’s home game because of COVID-19 protocols with Eastern Kentucky. The game has been rescheduled for Feb. 15.

Athletic director Mark Wilson says the school’s top priority is protecting athletes, staff and fans.

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Michigan State is planning to resume competing later this week after postponing three straight games due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the men’s basketball program.

Coach Tom Izzo says the Spartans (8-4, 2-4 Big Ten) are planning to play at Rutgers (8-6, 4-6) on Thursday night. He expects shooting guard Joshua Langford and center Mady Sissoko to be cleared to play the Scarlet Knights after both tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month.

Izzo says Gabe Brown and an assistant coach recently tested positive, adding the junior shooting guard will be out of the lineup until early February.

The Spartans had postponed games at No. 4 Iowa and at home against Indiana and No. 22 Illinois. Since starting daily testing in the fall, Izzo said only “a couple” of players in the program have avoided testing positive for COVID-19.

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The NFL says there were no new confirmed positive tests among players and just two new confirmed positives among other personnel in the latest round of testing for COVID-19.

In all, 2,126 tests were administered to 313 players and 3,152 tests were administered to 531 personnel during the weeklong period that ended Saturday.

Nearly 955,000 tests have been given to players and personnel since testing started at the beginning of August, and so far 262 players and 462 other personnel have been confirmed positive.

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 follow the protocol established by the league and the players’ association. They are immediately isolated, are not permitted access to club facilities, and can’t have direct contact with anyone affiliated with the team.

Club medical staff are in regular communication with individuals who test positive to monitor symptoms.

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Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is back at practice after testing positive for COVID-19.

Staal said Tuesday he feels good now after having some chills and coughing. He was the first of six Hurricanes players that ultimately appeared on the league’s daily COVID-19 unavailability list, which ultimately led to the postponement of three games.

The Hurricanes are currently scheduled to return to the ice Thursday against Tampa Bay. Staal was still listed on the league’s COVID-19 list as of Monday along with Jesper Fast, Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin and Teuvo Teravainen.

Staal said he was “the first guy to test positive” and said he was “as surprised as anyone else – really in shock” after finding out. He said he was trying to be safe and follow health protocols before testing positive.

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