College Hoops Fans Rightfully Upset Over Late Start Time for UConn-Purdue National Title Game

The 9:20 p.m. ET start time continues to be the worst.

Apr 6, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts during his team’s win over Alabama in the Final Four. / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The UConn Huskies will be looking to win their second straight national championship on Monday night when they face the Purdue Boilermakers in what should be a very fun matchup between the two best teams in the country.

The only problem with this game? The start time, which is set for 9:20 p.m. ET.

This isn't new, of course, as the national title game always starts at that time. But that doesn't make it O.K. in the eyes of lots of fans, especially on the East Coast, who will have to stay up really late on a work/school night to see how things play out.

It's hard these days to find a topic that unites just about everyone. This start time, however, has done just that, with most fans sounding off about it on social media:

UConn and Purdue tip off at 9:20 pm Eastern Monday night

This is later than the CFB Playoff Championship Game, NBA Finals, NHL Finals, World Series and Super Bowl

Why does it start at 9:20 pm Eastern Monday night?

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) April 8, 2024

How to ruin what has been a fun, exciting #MarchMadness... start the #NationalChampionship game at 9:20 PM Est.
Dumb.

— Alan Lee🏝🍷 (@AlanLLee) April 8, 2024

Whoever keeps making the decision to start the NCAA Championship game at 9:20 on a work night needs to be fired.

— ASGI Guy (@AsgiGuy) April 8, 2024

3 p.m. start for the NCAA women’s championship game=excellent.

9:20 p.m. start for the NCAA men’s national championship=terrible.

— Scott Truxell (@ScottTruxell) April 7, 2024

9:20 start time is appalling for any national championship. Some of us are old

— kb (@karinasophia12) April 8, 2024

Everyone in the rest of the country gets angry when we point out that 9:20 is a truly unforgivable start for a basketball game. But it is. It's absurd. The game could start at 8:40 and everyone out west would be off of work. Folks here would still complain but it'd be better.

— Glenn Clark (@GlennClarkRadio) April 8, 2024

9:20 start tonight. What a joke

— Travis Tucci (@Trav_The_Sav_14) April 8, 2024

A 9:20 EST start time for a National Title game on a work night is just stupid.

— Colin Shaw (@ColinShaw21) April 8, 2024

9:20 start time for a championship game is nasty work

— Jayski🦇 (@BadBitxhFumbler) April 8, 2024

I’d be surprised if I watch any of the national championship game tonight. 9:20 start is ridiculous

— Patrick R (@PatrickR_1) April 8, 2024