UConn fans are buzzing, and not just from the excitement of March Madness. Despite the Huskies' victory over No. 15 seed Furman, the late tipoff time at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia has left many scratching their heads.
With the game starting at 10 p.m. ET, it's no wonder the East Coast faithful are feeling a bit miffed.
The NCAA's scheduling decision has sparked a flurry of reactions. Joe Schad from the Palm Beach Post didn't mince words, labeling the late start as a "disgrace."
And he's far from alone. One UConn supporter voiced their frustration, arguing that no NCAA event should begin after 9:00 p.m. local time, emphasizing the unfairness to the student-athletes involved.
Another fan chimed in, calling the 10:30 p.m. start "EGREGIOUS," especially for an East Coast team playing in the Eastern time zone. The sentiment was echoed by others questioning why the Midwest region games kicked off earlier in the day.
Looking ahead, UConn's next challenge is against No. 7 seed UCLA, with tipoff scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET.
Key players Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. were instrumental in the win over Furman, scoring 22 and 31 points respectively, with Reed adding an impressive 27 rebounds. However, for the Huskies to push through to the Sweet 16, they'll need standout performances from Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins.
As it stands, the oddsmakers have UConn as slight favorites over UCLA. The stage is set for another thrilling matchup, and fans are hopeful the timing won't overshadow the action on the court.