Update on the latest sports
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NBA
Raptors’ virus issues worsen, game vs. Bulls called off
UNDATED (AP) — The Toronto Raptors’ issues with the coronavirus have worsened, prompting the NBA to call off their game scheduled for Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls.
The league said the Raptors are dealing with positive test results, without disclosing how many, and that combined with ongoing contact tracing issues meant they would not have the league-required eight players available to play.
Toronto played Friday without head coach Nick Nurse, several other assistants and staffers and starting forward Pascal Siakam (see-A’-kam) because of virus-related issues. Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo coached the team to a win over Houston and was in line to coach again Sunday.
All NBA players and coaches are tested daily. The Raptors used 12 players on Friday and had 14 listed as available to play that night. For Sunday’s game, Siakam was the only player who had been listed on Saturday’s injury report as out because of health and safety protocols. That indicates that results that came back on Saturday either showed more problems, or the contact tracing investigations showed that players had been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and may have to quarantine.
The Raptors-Bulls game is the 30th to be postponed so far this season because of COVID-19 testing or contact tracing.
Chicago had traveled to Tampa on Saturday for the game and after the postponement was announced changed its travel plans to fly back home Sunday afternoon. The Bulls are scheduled to play Monday at home against Denver.
Toronto’s next game is scheduled to be Tuesday against Detroit.
NBA-HAWKS-BOGDANOVIC
Bogdanovic progresses in recovery from fractured knee
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (BOY’-ahn bahg-DAH’-noh-vich) has progressed to one-on-one drills with contact as he recovers from a fractured right knee.
The 28-year-old has been out since a Jan. 9 game against the Charlotte Hornets. The next step in his rehab will be to take part in team practices.
The Hawks signed Bogdanovic to a four-year, $72 million contract during a free-agency spending spree designed to upgrade a roster that has undergone a complete overhaul since the team last made the playoffs in 2017.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard was averaging 9.9 points in nine games with two starts before his injury. He had hoped to return before the March 5-10 All-Star break, but it appears his recovery will take a bit longer.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CLEMSON-KENDRICK
Clemson all-ACC cornerback Kendrick no longer with Tigers
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson starting cornerback Derion Kendrick is no longer part of the Tigers’ program. A team spokesman confirmed Kendrick’s status on Sunday.
Kendrick, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior from Rock Hill, South Carolina, was a highly talented player who last season had several discipline issues and did not play in three games.
Kendrick started eight of the nine games he played in last season. He had 20 tackles and led the team with six pass breakups. He also had a 66-yard fumble recovery touchdown in a victory over Virginia Tech. He was named a first-team all-ACC cornerback.
Kendrick becomes the second defensive starter gone from last year’s group, which finished 15th nationally with 326 yards allowed a game.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SUPER SENIORS
College football super seniors could change fortunes in 2021
UNDATED (AP) — As major college football returns to normal in 2021, one of the lingering effects of the pandemic season will be the return of hundreds of older players who choose to stick around for another year. That’s due to The NCAA’s decision to grant every fall sport athlete who played through the pandemic an extra season of eligibility.
With spring practice approaching, more than 1,000 scholarship players are expected to take advantage of the NCAA’s eligibility mulligan, according to an Associated Press review of rosters provided by 129 schools.
The number of these super seniors on each team is subject to change and likely to go down as players continue to assess the value of playing an extra year of college football. But their presence is likely to have a major impact on the 2021 season.
The NCAA ruled that super seniors will not count next season toward the Bowl Subdivision cap of 85 scholarship players per team. As of now, athletes using their COVID-19 year of eligibility after 2021-22 will count toward scholarship and roster limits in all NCAA sports.
