NCAA men's basketball final: Tonight's 9:20 p.m. tip time is outrageous, ridiculous and insane | Schad

The NCAA men's basketball national champion could be crowned sometime between 11:30 p.m. Eastern and midnight tonight.

How absurd.

The NCAA men's basketball national championship game between UConn and Purdue does not tip off until 9:20 p.m. Eastern tonight.

Ridiculous.

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

What are we doing here?

Don't pass the melatonin.

Please pass a Red Bull. And a double espresso.

What time is NCAA championship game on Monday?

Yes, the game is being played in Arizona, where the tip time will be 6:20 p.m.

But would, say, 5:20 p.m. local really be an issue?

Is it all about ratings?

Is it really about being more fair to West Coasters?

Am I really as old and cranky as some of my social media followers say?

What time is NCAA game today?

The UConn-Purdue NCAA men's basketball championship game tonight tips off at 9:20 p.m. Insanity.

Is it really just because they've always started this game late?

It's a Monday night!

How many 8-14 year olds are going to make it to the end of this game?

And then be ready for math class at 8 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday?

Three percent?

Absurd.

What time is UConn-Purdue tonight?

The NCAA men's national championship game tips off at 9:20 p.m. Eastern tonight.

What time do we get "One Shining Moment?"

Do they still do that?

Will it now mostly be consumed on social media sometime on Tuesday?

Why was the women's national championship game played at 3 p.m. Eastern (noon Pacific) on Sunday?

If anything, that game could have been played a few hours later?

Why was a women's Final Four game (Iowa vs. UConn) scheduled for 9:30 p.m.?

Ridiculous.

At least it was a Friday night. I suppose.

Am I the only one confused by these decisions?

Apparently not.

Thousands of folks like my social media post about this ridiculousness.

More than 1,000,000 folks seem to have viewed said social media post.

Who cares? Yeah, I know, I get it.

But my point is this appears to be a topic the NCAA needs to re-visit.

Many people are unhappy with this start time.

Yes, there are some supporters of this start time.

A few.

The game will tip at 3:20 p.m. in Hawaii.

No, not ideal.

But better than 9:20 p.m. Eastern?

Some might say yes.

Absurd.

What people are saying about NCAA tip time

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NCAA UConn Purdue men's championship game start time is unfair, ridiculous