Midnight Madness was back in full swing Friday night as various men's college basketball programs got their fan bases geared up for the start of the 2017-18 season.
The tradition marks the day college teams are allowed to begin preseason practices, with the first one being open to the public in a very public way. The Kentucky Wildcats, led by coach John Calipari, are known for having elaborate celebrations during Midnight Madness. This year's festivities, which the school calls Big Blue Madness, included a dance-off between players, flashy light displays and a very special guest: superstar rapper Drake.
#EmbraceDrake #BBM17 #EmbraceMadness #EmbraceTheStage pic.twitter.com/V2dw6gHBFy
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 14, 2017
The stage is set for #BBM17. #EmbraceMadness #EmbraceTheStage pic.twitter.com/TCsP3ZPJe6
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2017
It isn't a #BBM17 blue carpet without @The_Wildcat and Scratch. #EmbraceMadness #EmbraceTheStage pic.twitter.com/iyRxDGzQEv
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2017
The show has just gotten started. #BBM17 #EmbraceMadness #EmbraceTheStage pic.twitter.com/wTVXytrgzF
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2017
#BBM17 🕺 in the locker room with the Cats.@Diallo1Hamidou @JVando_ @pjwashington_25 pic.twitter.com/bIPWOhRf3O
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2017
🐐🐐🐐 @UKCoachCalipari #BBM17 #EmbraceMadness #EmbraceTheStage pic.twitter.com/fui4Wi0gKW
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 14, 2017
Who danced best at #BBM17? pic.twitter.com/eLIwqGVnp3
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 14, 2017
But UK fans don't get to have all of the fun. At Oklahoma State, football coach Mike Gundy and his quarterback, Mason Rudolph, took to the court to help get their school pumped up for the start of the Cowboys' basketball season.
Coach Gundy challenges Mason Rudolph to take his shirt off, and then proceeds to do the same. Who wouldn't want this guy as their coach? pic.twitter.com/LejBJiD0Bf
— Joel Devick (@joelyranch3r) October 14, 2017
Gundy challenged his player to take off his shirt for the crowd, a dare that Rudolph accepted. In true solidarity, Gundy proceeded to take off his own shirt.
In Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Tar Heels spent their Madness evening paying tribute to their 2017 national championship team.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆#CarolinaSZN pic.twitter.com/G8WHI8KnJd
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 14, 2017
As fans, players and coaches looked on, UNC's national championship banner was lowered from the rafters for the first time.
All in all, Friday night's celebrations were a great way to count down to the start of the 2017-18 season, a new chance for teams to pursue a coveted national championship.
--Meaghan Latella