A spaced out limited crowd, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Baylor and Kansas State in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Kansas Out of Big 12 Tournament After Player Tests Positive for COVID-19

Rob GoldbergMar 12, 2021

Kansas has withdrawn from the Big 12 men's basketball tournament after a player tested positive for COVID-19.

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports first reported the news.

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The Jayhawks were scheduled to face Texas in the tournament semifinals Friday, but the game has been canceled.

Per Norlander, the player who tested positive competed in Thursday's quarterfinals win over Oklahoma.

Kansas was already without David McCormack and Tristan Enaruna for the Big 12 tournament because of COVID-19 protocols.

The team expected both players to be available to return for the NCAA tournament, per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Jeff Goodman of Stadium reported Kansas still has "optimism" it can compete in March Madness.

The 20-8 Jayhawks are projected as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament by Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller.

Kansas becomes the third major conference team to drop out of its tournament this week because of COVID-19 protocols after Virginia and Duke both withdrew from the ACC tournament.

Texas will advance to the finals of the Big 12 tournament to face either Baylor or Oklahoma State.