UNC basketball’s game against No. 4 UCLA canceled due to COVID concerns

North Carolina’s men’s basketball game against No. 4 UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic scheduled for Saturday in Las Vegas was canceled as the Bruins had more players enter into COVID-protocols.

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin was the first to enter the protocol and he was set to miss Wednesday’s scheduled game against Alabama State before the school canceled it about an hour before tipoff. According to the Los Angeles Times, that game was canceled out of caution because none of the Bruins’ players were affected.

The Tar Heels were scheduled to fly to Vegas after practice on Thursday afternoon.

With the news of the cancellation/postponement, UNC is in a tough spot to try and find another non-conference game before the New Year. The Heels face Appalachian State on Tuesday before taking a holiday break. When they return after Christmas, they resume ACC play with Virginia Tech on Dec. 29 and head to Boston College on Jan. 1.

Carolina (8-2) has been clamoring to face another highly ranked team after its losses against No. 3 Purdue and No. 18 Tennessee in the Hall of Fame Tipoff. The Heels were particularly ineffective defensively in those losses that knocked the Heels out of the Top 25 polls.

But since that weekend, UNC has won five straight games and not allowed any of its opponents more than 63 points. That’s the longest streak since the 2010-11 season.