Tad Boyle sidelined by COVID-19

BOULDER — The blows keep coming.

The University of Colorado announced Tuesday morning that head basketball coach Tad Boyle has COVID-19 and will be unable to coach Thursday’s game against Oregon. The Buffs are scheduled to take on Oregon State on Saturday and his status for that game is still to be determined. Associate head coach Mike Rohn will serve as head coach during Boyle’s absence.

The University of Colorado athletic department announced on Tuesday that Head Coach Tad Boyle has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Thursday’s game against Oregon.

Full Release ⬇️

— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) February 1, 2022

Colorado spent the past week on the road with games against Oregon, Washington and Washington State. Since the whole team was in tight quarters, there is potential for more positive tests to occur in the next few days. The current Pac-12 policy requires teams to play if they have at least seven healthy scholarship players and one coach. As of today, Colorado has eight healthy players, but Tristan da Silva and Eli Parquet could be good to go by Thursday. If not, CU is two positive tests away from a postponement.

Colorado previously had to cancel a game against Kansas and postpone a game against Oregon State because of a COVID-19 outbreak in its locker room.

The Buffs have struggled recently and their postseason hopes are on the brink. It’s a bad time to be without a head coach.