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The Nebraska basketball team remained in its Bankers Life Fieldhouse locker room Wednesday night after coach Fred Hoiberg left the bench during a Big Ten tournament game against Indiana.

Hoiberg was sent to an Indianapolis hospital, but was released. The coach had flu and cold symptoms, but not coronavirus.

"I'm good," Hoiberg texted Travis Hines of the Ames Tribune.

The Cornhuskers were allowed to leave the arena and return to their hotel.

Update on Head Coach Fred Hoiberg pic.twitter.com/sbe2pACeJE — Nebraska Basketball () March 12, 2020

Though Hoiberg was cleared to coach Wednesday night, he was in visible discomfort on the bench before leaving late in the second half.

Hoiberg appeared ill throughout the game — coughing and holding his head in his hands. Team officials were seen going back and forth between the locker room and the team bench late in the game, and the teams did not exchange handshakes following the game — except for an elbow bump between Archie Miller and Nebraska assistant Doc Sadler.

All this comes on the night the NBA announced it was suspending its season because of COVID-19 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

jesus christ fred pic.twitter.com/WNEf1Jr8aN — Big Ten Geek () March 12, 2020

Nebraska players and coaches were unavailable for postgame news conferences. No further comment was given.

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg been taken to the hospital, source told . Was sick, left the game early and was told to go to be checked out immediately. https://t.co/OPs1nmNTZg — Jeff Goodman () March 12, 2020

Told by a source close to the situation that Fred Hoiberg began feeling “really bad” earlier today. https://t.co/UbpaApJqHD — Jeff Goodman () March 12, 2020

Christoper Heady of the Omaha World-Leader reported the Cornhuskers remained at Bankers Life Fieldhouse until close to midnight.

Nebraska men’s basketball team is not leaving Bankers Life Arena. They were brought their food outside the locker room. They are not letting people back to the area now. I just walked back to the area here and they told me no one from Nebraska will be made available. — Andy Katz () March 12, 2020

IU players also did not attend postgame news conference as Archie Miller said, "I decided to move those guys as fast as we possibly can, get cleaned up and go to the hotel as fast as possible."

Indiana players were not available for press conference. Miller wanted the guys to get cleaned up and back to the hotel as fast as possible. #iubb — Stefan Krajisnik () March 12, 2020

Hoiberg issued a statement via Twitter about the situation Thursday morning, stating he would never put anyone in harm's way.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced March Madness would be played behind closed doors, and then the Big Ten followed suit, but not until after the start of Wednesday's first-round action at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which included fans.

"We’ll brace ourselves for what happens next," Miller said postgame. "It’s obviously a very evolving situation, and it’s rapid. But it puts it into reality of the seriousness of it. When world experts start to recommend things, you obviously better listen."

"We're preparing to play tomorrow, and hopefully that continues on. But probably like you guys, this is uncharted territory."



Archie Miller pretty much with everybody else tonight. #iubb — Zach Osterman () March 12, 2020

A source confirmed to that Fred Hoiberg has been taken to the hospital. There's concern that the Nebraska team is going to have to be quarantined.



Knowing the severity of what's going on, allowing him to coach tonight was incredibly reckless by everyone at Nebraska. — Rob Dauster () March 12, 2020

Source: Indystar.com

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