UConn Men's Basketball Faces Travel Issues En Route to Final Four in Phoenix

Tom Dierberger | Apr 3, 2024

Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts after cutting the net after defeating Illinois in the Elite Eight. / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The UConn men's basketball team punched its ticket to the Final Four without much trouble, handily defeating Stetson, Northwestern, San Diego State and Illinois to win the East Region.

Actually traveling to the Final Four in Phoenix, however, posed a challenge for coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies.

CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported Wednesday the Huskies' original flight to Phoenix was scheduled to leave Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET, but their plane arriving from Kansas City had logistical and mechanical issues that forced a delay.

Per Norlander, the crew flying the plane from Kansas City would be over their FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) hours and can't fly the team to Arizona. UConn would have to wait until 10 a.m. ET on Thursday to fly on that plane.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported later Wednesday that the Huskies found a solution—a flight expected to leave the East Coast around 11:30 p.m. ET Wednesday. UConn will arrive in Phoenix around 2 a.m. ET Thursday.

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 (@PeteThamel) April 4, 2024

While the Huskies waited in limbo for an available flight, the other three Final Four teams—Alabama, Purdue and NC State—already arrived in Phoenix.

UConn, the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, is set to face No. 4 seed Alabama in the national semifinals on Saturday at State Farm Stadium.