Every year, the NCAA championship game tips off sometime after 9 p.m. ET.
Every year, the late tip catches folks off guard in the hours before tipoff.
This year's tilt between North Carolina and Kansas was no different. The Tar Heels and Jayhawks tipped off at 9:20 ET on Monday before the Jayhawks won the national championship, sparking cries of outrage and surprise from East Coast fans dreading an early alarm clock.
The angst on the East Coast is understandable. For folks who clock in early, staying up much past 9 p.m. can be a challenge — much less starting a two-plus hour game at 9:20 p.