Nebraska is getting hit hard by COVID-19, with the men’s basketball program needing to postpone this week’s games. This is now four straight games that will be postponed as the program handles the ongoing pandemic.

Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg is in self-isolation having contracted the coronavirus recently. While Hoiberg in a statement said that his condition is improving, it became necessary to sideline the team as they battle to return to health.

Earlier last week, Nebraska’s games against No. 14 Illinois and Maryland were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. Now, their midweek game at No. 23 Minnesota is also on hold as is their game against No. 5 Iowa next weekend.

With a dozen personnel related to the men’s basketball team including seven players currently touched by the pandemic, the move to sideline the team became necessary:

As of testing results through Saturday, Nebraska is in the Red/Red threshold in the Big Ten Conference guidelines for both Team Positivity Rate and Population Positivity Rate. Under those conditions, the team will extend its pause on regular practice and competition for a minimum of seven days.

It is unclear if Nebraska can or will return to the court after Jan. 24. The Cornhuskers are currently 4-8 on the season but all of that is relatively unimportant in light of the health of the team and their personnel.