Basketball season is almost upon us. Big Blue Madness is an annual event hosted at Rupp Arena. It marks the unofficial start of basketball season. This year, the 38th annual Big Blue Madness took place on Friday, October 2, 2026. Free general admission tickets sold out in just 22 minutes! As Head Coach Mark Pope said, “An event like none other in the world,” as the arena was filled with blue.
For both men’s and women’s basketball, the event brings students and fans together to build excitement for the season. Big Blue Madness gives the public a look at the new season’s roster. To build even more excitement, each player gives a brief introduction and participates in dunk and three-point contests. The event usually features an alumni or celebrity appearance to top it off, ending with current and former players on stage.
Highlights for the men’s team included Alex Wilkins winning the three-point contest and beating Ousmane N’Diaye in the final round. In addition, Justin McBride won the dunk contest with a 180 one-handed dunk. Milan Momcilovic made a half-court shot on the first try to win $10,000 for a fan! To conclude, Zoom Diallo won King of the Court, with Malachi Moreno as a close second. A former Wildcat and now NBA champion, Karl-Anthony Towns, AKA KAT, appeared at Big Blue Madness.
Pope unzipped his jacket to reveal a No. 12 jersey, then introduced KAT. Towns played for the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected first overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was named Rookie of the Year and is second on the Timberwolves’ all-time scoring list. Towns was traded to the Knicks for the 2024-2025 season and helped the Knicks win the 2026 NBA Finals.
Photo Cred: USA Today
Head coach of men’s basketball Mark Pope and women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks are both beginning their third season with the Wildcats and are looking forward to what it will bring. Highlights from Big Blue Madness for the women’s team included a shooting competition and a three-point contest. In the three-point contest, the final round included Asia Boone, Emily McDonald, and Me’Arah O’Neal, who all scored 20 points.
All three players went to half-court to break the tie, and Boone won it in the end. Finally, we can’t forget the cheerleading and dance teams, both of which gave great performances to energize the crowd. The cheerleading and dance teams will head to Orlando to compete in the UDA and UCA championships in January, with the cheerleading team hoping to take home their 25th title.
Kentucky fans have a lot to look forward to this year in sports, and many are eager to see what the Wildcats have in store. Men’s basketball will play three exhibition games, starting on October 16th. The women’s team will begin its season on November 2 against Morehead State at home.
