WASHINGTON –In what is being called “the biggest aviation mystery of the century”, the disappearance of Flight 726A transporting the Georgetown University Hoya basketball team to their first round match in the NCAA Men’s Division I Championship continues to baffle both tournament officials and fans alike. As the search for the team, described as a “shoe-in” for the Big East conference, enters its fourth day theories about what happened remain purely speculative.

United Flight 726A was originally scheduled to transport Georgetown players and coaching staff from Reagan National in Washington, DC to Milwaukee International Airport at approximately 9:28am Thursday morning. However, according to officials, all reservations for the flight were inexplicably “cancelled” approximately forty eight hours before scheduled takeoff time.

The plane, which would have allowed the Hoyas to take on number two seed Wisconsin University in their bid for the Division I title, was booked by coach John Thompson III as early as October of last year. Said Thompson at the time of the booking, “If there’s one thing I can say without hesitation about the young men on this team, it’s that they will be getting on that plane,  and they will be proudly representing this University in March Madness 2014. Hoyas 2014!!!”

Though theories on the disappearance of the team, labelled by bracketologists as a “legitimate contender” for the 2014 season, have ranged from mechanical error to possible foul play by rival George Washington University, disbelief has remained as the key narrative in the search.

“I was looking at my bracket back in January, hell, even a couple weeks ago, and there they were, the Georgetown Hoyas” said local alum David Parsons. “Yeah, maybe they wouldn’t make the Elite Eight, or even the Sweet Sixteen, but Jesus they’re supposed to be playing the Badgers right freaking now. And yeah, I’m sure the [AU] Eagles just ‘happened’ to be free to take our spot, how f#%king convenient.”

In a speech given late last night President Obama assured a troubled nation that he has directed “every resource available” to assist with the search for the missing Hoyas, many of whom have family members, friends, and loved ones still awaiting their arrival at Milwaukee International Airport.

Suggestions that the flight may have been diverted to another, perhaps less prestigious tournament have been met with scorn, denial, and cliche references to “getting ‘em next year.”