The UConn men's basketball team faced significant travel delays en route to the Final Four in Phoenix due to mechanical issues with their original aircraft. The team was stranded in Connecticut, with their flight out not scheduled until close to 1 am ET at the earliest. Despite the setbacks, including last year's travel mishaps during the Sweet 16/Elite 8, the Huskies remained optimistic. The NCAA, in conjunction with the school and charter airlines, worked to develop several options, eventually scheduling a departure at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET. The flight, which did not require refueling, was expected to land in Phoenix very early in the morning. After a tense wait, the team finally boarded the plane and took off around 1:30 am ET, landing in Phoenix around 3:15-3:30 am local time, more than seven hours late. The NCAA is working with UConn to make schedule adjustments for their practice and media obligations due to the late arrival.
Can anyone stop UConn? Apparently yes—Mother Nature and charter planes https://t.co/ue4UjVlV3T
The Huskies finally touched down in Phoenix about two hours ago -- more than seven hours late! UConn men's team finally arrives for Final Four after plane issues https://t.co/D9NLUPf4jk
America's long national nightmare is finally over: The UConn basketball team has touched down in Arizona for the Final Four after an unexpected plane issue! The college basketball world can now breathe easy! WATCH: https://t.co/3tqRxqlxUp https://t.co/MlWudeEEfd
The NCAA is working with UConn in real time to make schedule changes for Thursday, per a source. With UConn arriving after 3:10 a.m, they are working with the NCAA to push back practice and media obligations.
UConn's Final Four flight delay saga is over after they took an Allegiant plane to Arizona and fans made so many jokes https://t.co/0DML8txHad https://t.co/5l7QBQjY4z
The Connecticut UConn Huskies have landed in Phoenix after the (FAILING) airline industry tried everything they could to stop them. I wonder who is behind this….I will not sleep until I get answers. Doesn’t matter though. Who cares bratha. Saturday night? We SMESH. https://t.co/7TsPcWXZFE
UConn Final Four travel saga is something … https://t.co/GSTUDPR9C8
Means UConn probably lands around 3:15-3:30 am local time and gets into hotel around 4:30 am. Can’t wait to hear Dan Hurley tomorrow at media availability. Should be in rarest of rare form. https://t.co/PDghaVi36B
UConn has finally taken off for Phoenix, athletic director Dave Benedict told @TheFieldOf68. 1:30 am ET. https://t.co/xB72RPLpPO
UConn still hasn’t taken off for Phoenix. Flight tracker shows departure in about 15 minutes. Gonna be a long ass day. (They’ll be fine. The game is Saturday. It’s fine, really)
It's 1:08 ET and UConn is still on the ground in Connecticut. Not ideal https://t.co/JZBZ67K95G
UConn men’s basketball team has boarded the plane and is leaving for Phoenix soon, source told @TheFieldOf68 Supposed to land around 2:30 am Phoenix time.
High-flying UConn men’s basketball team grounded by plane trouble on way to Final Four https://t.co/hYy10JUQ26
It would appear UConn is on the plane
UConn men's basketball is stranded in K.C., waiting on a flight to Arizona for a matchup against Alabama this weekend. The NCAA followed it up with a statement about the 'significant delay.' It's going to be a wild ride to the Final Four. READ: https://t.co/uW6sJPkvJc
UConn faces travel delays; flight to Final Four has multiple issues: report https://t.co/jYmQooJiRT
Updated story on @UConnMBB 's travel issues No. 1 UConn’s arrival at Final Four delayed by travel snafu: ‘They’ll get in very early in the morning’ https://t.co/EmYIBkPZKf
UConn flight to Phoenix and Final Four matchup with Alabama delayed, per Dan Hurley https://t.co/BbZbAOYcvq
UConn AD David Benedict told me by phone he expects the @UConnMBB to get off the ground at Bradley Airport around 11:30 PM and will arrive in Phoenix very early in the morning https://t.co/6k3gcRt1y3
NCAA statement on UConn’s travel issues: https://t.co/885TT9Q4sg
There's a flight plan that has UConn departing for Phoenix tonight at 11:40 pm, which is great. Except that plane is in Cincinnati, and is not currently en route to Windsor Locks, which is not great.
NCAA statement: 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. In conjunction with the school and charter airlines, the NCAA worked to develop several options…
NCAA statement on UConn flight issues: “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. In conjunction with the school and charter airlines, the NCAA worked…
Hearing that UConn has a plane to depart at 11:30, won’t have to refuel, so about a 6 hour flight. Hardly ideal for sleep pattern, but better than other scenarios.
UConn vs The World: The Men's Team Is Currently Stuck In Connecticut Without A Plane To Fly Them To The Final Four https://t.co/9hsSP582Lq https://t.co/NwOej8sdR8
Travel issues force Huskies to sit and wait: UConn can’t fly out of Connecticut until close to 1 am ET tonight at the earliest. The story/scoop via @MattNorlander https://t.co/xOEzAiGaYW
Last year at the Sweet 16/Elite 8, UConn had items robbed from its bus, had to switch hotels, and had its flight back from Las Vegas diverted to Providence. The Huskies were optimistic it would be smooth sailing this year given the Brooklyn/Boston sites to start. Alas … https://t.co/nGZvf0ux1b
UConn AD Dave Benedict tells @TheFieldOf68 that the hope is that a smaller plane will take the team to Phoenix a little after midnight.
Joined by UConn AD David Benedict (@UConnHuskyAD) NOW! Discussing the Huskies' travel issues to the Final Four! https://t.co/Csr2QhiPbF We are LIVE in downtown Phoenix ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/vdahq8eKEY
Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies are STUCK without a flight to the Final Four!! @GoodmanHoops' take? "I don't give a shit" https://t.co/Csr2QhiPbF We are LIVE in downtown Phoenix ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/vdahq8eKEY
UConn't get to Phoenix without a plane. https://t.co/PpJGJV0aUZ