GLENDALE, Ariz. — No, Dan Hurley isn’t using his nightmarish trip from Connecticut to Arizona as some strange motivation.
The top-seeded Huskies were significantly delayed in arriving for this weekend’s Final Four due to plane trouble.
The plane finally landed at 3:12 a.m. Pacific time on Thursday.
“I think what happens in your head after you’re done complaining and name-calling and tweeting is you start telling yourself that you don’t deserve to show your qualifications,” he says, as his team plays against No. 1. Hurley said as he prepared. Alabama The national semifinals were held Saturday night at State Farm Stadium. He added: “When that edge is cut, [it was, we’re] I’m lucky to be here. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to play in the Final Four. Who doesn’t deal with issues with airlines? …But it was the worst. ”
Due to the away controversy, Connecticut players did not have to meet with the media.
The Huskies practiced although they were behind schedule. Hurley said he slept for two hours on the plane and another two hours after landing.
“That’s why God created caffeine,” he quipped.
The original plane had mechanical problems and finding a new one was difficult.
The team was originally scheduled to take off at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, but ended up leaving Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport at 1:30 a.m.
The defending national champion was delayed a total of 7 1/2 hours.
“We did the same routine. We shot the video at the hotel. We knew we only had an hour and a half on the court, so we took advantage of the shooting and did a little bit of live play. It was important for me to be able to adapt to a much larger environment,” Hurley said. “Obviously we took them out of our practice plan a little bit. Let’s just take a little less work tonight and give them some rest.
“I mean, listen, they’d get in a van and drive 14 hours to go to Peach Jam, and two hours later they’d be playing. There’s no excuse. I mean, not too long ago, I was driving a mini cheese bus. We’re in the Final Four here, hey, we have a chance to move up and repeat as national champions and make history. We’re way beyond that. Masu.”
