St. John’s basketball: COVID continuing chaos in Queens

COVID continues to wreak havoc within the St. John’s basketball program. 

Nothing has gone right for the St. John’s basketball team over the last week and a half.

Julian Champagnie tested positive for COVID and missed a December 18 game against lowly Pittsburgh.

The Red Storm inexplicably lost to the Panthers at Madison Square Garden and St. John’s had been thrashed with positive Covid cases since.

The team’s game on December 23 against Butler was postponed due to the virus, after a December 20 game against Seton Hall had already been called off, and games on December 29 against Marquette and January 1 against Georgetown have also been postponed because of health and safety protools.

ALSO READ: St. John’s cancels game against Butler over COVID protocols

The program confirmed the upcoming postponed games on Monday afternoon.

Champagnie was no longer in quarantine as of Sunday afternoon but St. John’s has been dealt at least four more positive case since December 22, including the positive tests of Tareq Coburn and Joel Soriano.

St. John’s first four conference games have been postponed because of COVID and the team’s next scheduled game is on January 5 at home against DePaul.

It would be an 18-day layoff for the Johnnies if its matchup with the Blue Demons gets played.

St. John’s basketball could get players back sooner than expected

St. John’s had been following New York State guidelines that players who tested positive had to isolate for ten days but that could change soon.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Monday evening that vaccinated individuals who test positive for the virus only have to isolate for five days instead of its original ten day timeline.

It is expected that college conferences will soon adapt this policy as well, as the Atlantic Coast Conference has already enacted the guidelines for its schools.

ALSO READ: Big East changes COVID-19 forfeit rule

However, if the Big East Conference puts these guidelines into place do not expect the league to amend any upcoming postponed games.

Georgetown had its games through January 4 postponed on Monday and the policy could ensure St. John’s will have its full roster available on January 5 against DePaul.