St. Peter’s pulls out of Mohegan Sun event, UVA seeking replacement

Posted on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, 9:34 pm

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo by Matt Riley, UVA Athletics

Virginia is searching for a new opponent to open the men’s basketball season.

With new regulations announced by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, St. Peter’s has backed out of what was supposed to be the season opener for UVA. The two teams were scheduled to meet in the opener for both teams on Nov. 25 at the Mohegan Sun’s “Bubbleville,” where at least 30 college teams planned to assemble.

Now, that’s off and the Cavaliers will have to find a new season-opening opponent.

“St. Peter’s backed out,” said UVA associated head coach Jason Williford on Thursday while recording an episode for Saturday morning’s “Jerry Ratcliffe Show,” on WINA radio and ESPN-Charlottesville. “We don’t know who we’re going to play.”

The Cavaliers are scheduled to face Florida in a second game at the Connecticut resort, set for Nov. 27.

St. Peter’s pulled out of the Mohegan Sun event after the MAAC Council of Presidents announced the conference would play a 20-game, double round robin conference schedule, impacted by the evolving Covid-19 testing.