March Madness kicks off with chaos: gas leak and flight delays shake up the scene

The March Madness truly lives up to its name this year, as chaos takes hold for some programs. The NCAA basketball tournament tips off today with two First Four matchups: St. Francis (PA) faces Alabama State, followed by San Diego State squaring off against North Carolina. The tournament begins with intriguing games and plenty of pre-event drama.

One of the most highly anticipated games of this early March Madness stage is set for Thursday: Texas A&M will clash with the No. 13 seed, Yale, in Denver. However, Texas A&M’s plans to arrive in Denver on Monday hit an unexpected snag.

March Madness begins with a gas leak

According to Tyler Shaw of KBTX, Texas A&M’s players were set to get to Denver early for some extra prep time. But those plans were derailed by a gas leak that delayed their flight by an entire day. This is how March Madness begins for certain teams—with a dose of chaos.

This matchup has fans buzzing because, in last year’s tournament March Madness, Yale shocked Auburn before being eliminated by San Diego State. Meanwhile, Texas A&M ousted Nebraska, only to fall to Houston in the Sweet Sixteen.

“NOT on the move: Texas A&M’s men’s basketball team had their send-off today, but a gas leak at Harvey Mitchell/Raymond Stotzer delayed their flight enough to push their departure to Tuesday,” Shaw posted on X.

NOT wheels up:

Texas A&M men’s basketball had a sendoff today and was supposed to be on its way to Denver, but a gas leak at Harvey Mitchell/Raymond Stotzer delayed the flight long enough to push the departure to Tuesday

📹: @Travis_L_Brown pic.twitter.com/kiVGAqkliR

— Tyler Shaw (@TylerShawSports) March 17, 2025

Basketball and drama go hand in hand

In a separate report from Fox 44, it was revealed that the southbound lanes of the Harvey Mitchell Parkway exit ramp were closed for a significant period, causing further delays.

As a result, Texas A&M will now depart today, Tuesday. This setback leaves them with only two days to prepare for the game while also acclimating to Denver’s altitude. A potential edge for Yale, at the start of March madness. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 7:25 p.m. ET.

Adding to the travel woes, North Carolina also faced disruptions. The team had planned to practice in Dayton, Ohio, ahead of their First Four game. But travel issues threw a wrench in their schedule.

Excitement is already in full swing, with March Madness living up to its name. Despite hiccups for some teams, the stage is set for one of the most thrilling tournaments in sports.