Report: NCAA botched travel plans for Colorado State ahead of first-round matchup vs. Michigan
For a while, Colorado State didn’t know when it would be traveling to Indianapolis for its first-round matchup against Michigan on Thursday. Fortunately, the Rams were able to get a flight out on Tuesday morning, but it was a situation that was botched by the NCAA, according to a report.
Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported that, as of Monday night, Colorado State still had not heard about travel accommodations for its trip to Indianapolis. The 6-seeded Rams are playing No. 11 seed Michigan at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Colorado State head coach Niko Medved said that the delay and lack of communication made it very difficult for the Rams to make a schedule for the next two days. Below is the full report from Norlander:
It’s now Tuesday on the East Coast and Colorado St—which is scheduled to play the first game of Thursday’s first round—still has not been told by the NCAA when and how it is flying to Indy to play in the NCAA Tournament, Rams coach Niko Medved tells CBS Sports.
Not normal. (1/x)
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2022
Medved—"It's 10 o'clock and we don't know when we're flying to Indianapolis and we don't have any answers yet. It makes it very difficult to plan your day tomorrow as far as practice and preparation right now, especially when we're scheduled for the first game of the tournament."
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2022
Every team scheduled to play in Thursday’s first round will be traveling by NCAA-paid charter buses and planes tomorrow. (The NCAA is normally very good with this.) CSU is waiting in limbo and can’t get answers from the NCAA. It plays Michigan at 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2022
Most schools were notified this morning or in the afternoon. Colorado State is mulling going to the NCAA and lobbying to get its 12:15 p.m. Thursday tip pushed back. The program doesn't have a travel itinerary yet as it leads up to one of the biggest games in school history.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2022
Not that this matters, but the current travel logistics are amplified given the fact that Michigan — the lower-seeded team — will be traveling by bus to Indianapolis on Tuesday.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2022
Just in: Medved texts, “Just found out we leave tomorrow morning.”
Turns out, a little tweet thread to grease the wheels, and now the Rams apparently have themselves a bird to board out of Fort Collins tomorrow at 9:50 a.m. local time.
David Roddy won’t be denied!
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 15, 2022
Fortunately, everything got sorted out for the Rams. It was undoubtedly frustrating for the team, though, as they had to wait longer than usual to find out their travel plans.
The 12:15 p.m. tip-off time is the earliest for the Round of 64 during this year’s March Madness tournament.
