NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The men’s basketball game between No. 18 Tennessee and Memphis was canceled about an hour before tipoff due to COVID-19 issues within the Tigers’ program.
According to a release from University of Memphis Athletics, all tickets will be refunded via. the original point-of-purchase, with processing times depending on how the tickets were purchased.
Several games in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and NCAA had to be canceled or postponed due to COVID this week.
The game was originally slated to be played last season, but both teams agreed to postpone it one year so that it could be played in a full arena. Tennessee took the floor Saturday morning for an intrasquad scrimmage.
The Volunteers had warmed up and were ready to play when the game was called off at 9:54 a.m. with several hundred fans already in attendance. Tipoff had been scheduled for 11 a.m.
Memphis players did not enter the arena. It was not clear exactly how many players were in the COVID-19 protocols.
The University of Memphis will announce additional details about the Tigers' schedule at a later date. It's unclear if the game will be rescheduled.
This meeting was scheduled to be the 28th all-time meeting between the two teams.
Tennessee won on the road at Memphis during the 2018-19 season and Memphis won in Knoxville in 2019-20.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.