Sports

North Carolina’s trip to Dayton for NCAA tournament First Four delayed by plane issues

By Luke DeCock

Updated April 15, 2025 4:31 AM

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis signs an autograph for Reagan Yeary as the team arrives for their media availability and open practice at the University of Dayton Arena for the First Four of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 17, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. The team was delayed after issues with their charter flight. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

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Dayton, Ohio

If North Carolina thought getting an invitation to Dayton was tough, getting there turned out to be almost as difficult.

After their NCAA-provided charter flight arrived at RDU International Airport behind schedule, the Tar Heels missed their scheduled media availability to open the NCAA tournament on Monday night.

Originally scheduled to land in Dayton around 4 p.m., the Avelo Airlines plane departed RDU at 5:12 p.m. and North Carolina and arrived at 6:29 p.m.

“We just kind of stuck with it,” North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin said. “It was affecting everybody on the team but we stuck together. We just hung out, talked, interacted with each other. We bonded. It wasn’t an issue. We’re here now.”

North Carolina forward Drake Powell (9) steps off the team bus as the Tar Heels arrive at the University of Dayton Arena for the First Four in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 17, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. The team was delayed after issues with their charter flight. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

North Carolina had been scheduled to begin its press conferences at 5:50 p.m. with an open practice from 6:35 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. The Tar Heels ended up taking the floor at 8:11 p.m. for a crowd of few hundred patient fans.

“It was a lot of delays, a lot of waiting on scheduling to be sent to us,” North Carolina forward Jae’Lyn Withers said. “A lot of time playing the waiting game.”

The Tar Heels, the last team into the NCAA field, play San Diego State in the First Four of the NCAA tournament. With a win, they would advance to face Mississippi in Milwaukee on Friday.

This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM with the headline "North Carolina’s trip to Dayton for NCAA tournament First Four delayed by plane issues."