For the second consecutive year, supporters of the UConn men’s basketball team find themselves incensed by what they perceive as unfair treatment of their team during the NCAA Tournament.
UConn eventually made it to Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday morning, albeit after encountering some unfortunate travel hiccups. Unlike their opponent for Saturday night’s Final Four clash, Alabama, who arrived in Arizona on Tuesday, the Huskies were delayed. Purdue also landed in Arizona on Tuesday, while their opponent, NC State, was present in Glendale by early Wednesday.
Scheduled to depart Connecticut at 3:00 pm ET on Wednesday, the Huskies encountered a mechanical issue with their plane from Kansas City. Subsequently, they awaited another aircraft from Cincinnati, only to face a weather delay. Eventually, they took off around 1:30 am Thursday and reached Arizona at 6:00 am local time.
Regarding accommodations, upon arrival at their hotel, several UConn players shared snapshots of their lodgings on social media. It seemed that players were doubling up in rooms, a common practice.
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However, a photo shared by NC State standout DJ Burns revealed him in a room with a king-size bed, indicating disparate treatment.
For those dismissing the uproar on social media, it’s worth noting that UConn isn’t pleased. Athletic director David Benedict expressed dissatisfaction with Wednesday’s travel issues, asserting that the Huskies weren’t afforded a “championship experience” and questioned the absence of contingency plans by the NCAA.
Last year, UConn faced multiple issues in Las Vegas during the Sweet 16, adding to this year’s frustration among fans. However, despite last year’s inconveniences, the Huskies dominated their opponents, a trend continuing in this year’s tournament. Expect Coach Hurley to leverage these travel challenges to bolster his team’s “us against the world” mentality.
