NEW YORK -- The Kyrie Irving of college basketball has yet to emerge -- and may never will -- but the same rules governing COVID-19 vaccination policies in the NBA apply to the Big East Conference, and college basketball in general.
And while the Big East has 11 schools in 11 different states, the only city with a team that has a vaccination mandate is New York. And that means only the St. John’s players -- just like those on the Knicks, Rangers and Nets -- have to be vaccinated.
“We are following the city regulations, the city regulations are that [for] any home team, all players have to be vaccinated,” Joel Fisher, executive vice president at Madison Square Garden, told NJ Advance Media Tuesday at Big East media day. “That’s St. John’s, and they are all vaccinated. Any team that comes and plays from out of state does not have to be vaccinated so they can play here. It’s just the same exact rule as the NBA.”
Seton Hall is set to play its first game at the Garden Dec. 18 against Rick Pitino’s Iona team. The Pirates also visit the Garden Jan. 22 to face St. John’s, and of course will play the Big East Tournament there in March.
Seton Hall and the other visiting teams who play games at the Garden this year (including Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and Michigan State for the Champions Classic Nov. 9) won’t have to provide proof of vaccination, with the exception of those players who live in New York City. The Pirates have two players listed on their roster from New York: Syracuse transfer Kadary Richmond and freshman wing Brandon Weston are both listed as Brooklyn natives.
“If you are a New York City resident, the city rules are you have to be vaccinated,” Fisher said.
He added: “What we have found so far is that most schools require vaccination for all students and players. So we haven’t found it to be an issue at all.”
Seton Hall and and all Big East schools require vaccination for students but there are exemptions.
Myles Cale, a fifth-year senior at Seton Hall, said he is vaccinated but that not all of his teammates are. It’s unclear which Pirates are not vaccinated.
“I’m vaccinated, I don’t got a problem saying it,” Cale told NJ Advance Media.
“My teammates all are not vaccinated,” he added. “I want everybody to play but I have to respect the decision that they’re making because at the end of the day, they’re their own man and I can’t be mad at them for not wanting to put something in their body.”
Cale said he and his teammates have discussed the vaccine. The Nets’ Irving, of course, has made it a hot topic around the basketball world because of his refusal to be vaccinated. The Nets recently banned him from practices and games until he’s vaccinated or until New York’s regulations change.
“Yeah, we definitely talked about it and we know the risks it might have on us, so we’re taking it day-by-day and we’re trying to figure it out,” Cale said. “I want to see all my teammates out there with me side-by-side but I don’t make that decision for everybody. You know, it’s hard.”
As things stand now, it appears all the Pirates will be able to play at Prudential Center beginning with the home opener Nov. 10 against FDU regardless of their vaccination status. Prudential Center does not have the same rule as the Garden.
“There is not a rule like that at our building,” a Prudential Center spokesman told NJ Advance Media by email.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.