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In Monday’s remarks to media prior to the Michigan State Spartans matchup tomorrow night in East Lansing against the Penn State Nittany Lions, head coach Tom Izzo said that Thomas Kithier has not had a positive test for COVID-19.
After reporting to staff he felt ill during the first half of Saturday’s game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Kithier, a junior forward/center, was immediately removed from action and placed in isolation as a precaution. He had already reportedly taken both an antigen and PCR test on Friday along with another antigen test Saturday morning. Following the game and removal into isolation on Sunday, Kithier was given an antigen and two PCR tests on Sunday, none of which came back indicating positive for COVID-19. Coach Izzo remarked that he had some form of a virus, but it is clearly not COVID-19. Kithier did not practice with the team on Sunday, but was expected to on Monday.
To date, 13 of Michigan State’s 15 players have tested positive for COVID-19 since reporting back to campus last summer. At least five players and two staff members were unavailable for team activities during the pause in team activity last month. Among them were Mady Sissoko, Steven Izzo, Joshua Langford, Davis Smith, and Gabe Brown in addition to associate head coach Dane Fife.
You can find the full remarks by coach Izzo and Aaron Henry below.