RICHMOND, Va. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has forced some changes to the start of the college basketball season.
After its first two games of the season in Tennessee were canceled due to COVID concerns, VCU will now head to the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic in South Dakota.
The Rams will take the place of Wichita State.
The Shockers pulled out of the tournament Monday due to positive COVID tests in its program.
VCU will play Utah State in its opening game Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
The game will be televised by ESPN2.
The Richmond Spiders have also had its season opener at the Bluegrass Showcase canceled.
They were scheduled to play Detroit Mercy, but the opponents pulled out of the event due to a positive COVID test.
The Spiders will now open its season Friday against Morehead State at 6 p.m. in a rematch of its 2nd Round game in the 2011 NCAA tournament.
