With the Greater Cincinnati area’s two most prominent college basketball programs dealing with multiple postponements. All due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. Some significant questions swirl around Cincinnati Basketball and Xavier Basketball’s seasons.

First, how many postponed games will be rescheduled? So far only one postponed Cincinnati game has a make up date. A game against Tulane Basketball now set to take place on February 26th. That’s one of six Cincinnati Bearcats games that were postponed this month. None of Xavier’s four postponed games have been rescheduled.

Cincinnati, Xavier and their opponents might not have the time to make up every games. Excluding postponed games, Xavier has 11 games left on their schedule. Cincinnati has ten non-postponed games left on their schedule. Situations like this could set up a dilemma for programs, conferences and the NCAA. This season, the NCAA is requiring teams play 13 to at most 27 games. In order to be eligible for the NCAA Tournament. Both teams could meet the minimum threshold without making games up.

This prompts the question of whether these postponed games should be made up? That depends on virus outbreaks within programs between now and March. The NCAA has a rather clear goal regarding this season. Ensuring March Madness happens this year; after it was cancelled last year. To get as much milk out of that cash cow as possible. If that means conferences ultimately cancel previously postponed games. In an effort to preserve their tournaments and the NCAA Tournament, so be it.

As long as the Xavier Musketeers keep winning. They don’t necessarily need to make up their postponed games. Xavier is 10-2 overall and is still in good shape to get an NCAA Tournament bid. Cincinnati is 3-7 overall with just one conference win so far. They need to win as many games as they can. Whether they make up all of their postponed games or not. Just to salvage their season and keep their currently slim March Madness hopes alive.

These COVID-19 pauses are throwing both teams off of their rhythms. Like all teams, their typical preseason routines were disrupted. The recent pause disrupted team practices too. This prompts another question for Cincinnati, Xavier and other teams dealing with outbreaks. How will these teams fare after resuming games?

Barring another postponement, we will get an initial answer from Xavier this Saturday. When the Musketeers are set to play Butler Basketball in Indianapolis. In Xavier’s first game since their win against Providence Basketball on January 10th. The game was supposed to be played tonight. It’s being delayed to allow for more COVID-19 testing. After a referee that officiated Butler’s last game reportedly tested positive. Tip-off in Saturday’s game is set for 5:30 PM Eastern time on FS1.

Cincinnati’s next scheduled game is next Thursday evening. When the Bearcats face Temple Basketball at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena. That game is scheduled to tip off at 7 PM Eastern time. Xavier and Cincinnati face a similar challenge to garner some positive momentum. Xavier will try to regain momentum after back-to-back wins before their pandemic pause. The Bearcats have not won back-to-back games so far this season. Cincinnati’s record and the pandemic leaves them with much more rust to knock off.