The Texas men’s basketball team’s game against Kentucky Saturday was canceled Friday after Kentucky’s program was put on a 48-hour pause due to COVID-19 protocols, Texas Athletics announced in a press release.

The pause is due to a “combination of positive testing, contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the (Kentucky) program,” according to the statement.

The release stated that the decision is consistent with SEC conference COVID-19 protocols and Kentucky Athletics COVID-19 management requirements.

The Longhorns likely would have suited up for the game without head coach Shaka Smart, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 25. Associate coach K.T. Turner has acted as head coach in the interim.

According to a press release from Texas Athletics, several players were also expected to miss the game due to COVID-19 protocols. 

This is the third game Texas has had postponed in the past two weeks. The Longhorns have only played one game since Jan. 16.

Texas’ next game is scheduled for Feb. 2 against No. 2 Baylor at the Frank Erwin Center.