For the first time in weeks, the UConn Huskies looked vulnerable, though, this time that manifested off the court and to no fault of their own.
Just a few days from their highly-anticipated Final Four matchup in the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Alabama Crimson Tide, the defending national champions suffered a bit of off-the-court trouble when the plane that was supposed to fly them to Arizona ran into some troubles. That led to the delay of their flight.
“Due to mechanical issues with the original aircraft, UConn men’s basketball team is experiencing a delay and is now projected to depart at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET,” NCAA Director of Communications Michelle Brutlag Hosick said in a statement. “In conjunction with the school and charter airlines, the NCAA worked to develop several options for travel alternatives to Phoenix. We are very disappointed that UConn will arrive later than anticipated and it’s unfortunate the team’s travel experience has been impacted.”
The good news for the Huskies is that they still managed to take another flight, albeit one that was not according to the original schedule. In any case, safety is always first, and the change in schedule shouldn’t impact the team’s form.
“Was told that UConn’s men’s team appears to have a solution to its travel woes getting to Arizona. A flight is expected to leave around 11:30 tonight. They’ll get in around 2 a.m. As @MattNorlander noted, there’s been mechanical/crew issues for the Huskies,” Pete Thamel of ESPN shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The UConn Huskies have been so dominant in the Big Dance so far that they beat their last three opponents by an average of almost 30 points. In the Elite Eight round, the No. 1 UConn pummeled the No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini, 77-52.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!