midnight madness basketball annual event celebrating upcoming college basketball season team opens official practice public combining rally fan friendly activities tradition originated teams holding public practices midnight earliest day national collegiate athletic association ncaa allow practice held new ncaa rule established opening team practice sessions result dates teams celebrate vary stick traditional date friday night closest october history prior ncaa division men basketball season men women basketball teams permitted practice prior friday closest october head coach began midnight madness tradition october inviting public mile team run early practice session attended fans track surrounding stadium campus continued annual midnight practice session tenure maryland brought tradition head coach school delayed event sunrise time established tradition coach kentucky men basketball team began officially promote celebration dubbed midnight madness school event formal entertainment acts invited student audience event held held people seat gym big blue madness televised hosts celebrities including drake performed famous events late night kansas started broadcast live streaming video internet event caught campuses programs given away shirts allowed players stunt half court shots schools schedule point shooting contests slam contests event event men women team participate celebration especially schools like men women teams combined championships estimated approximately blue chip high school basketball recruits country attending midnight madness event weekend opens basketball season ncaa ruled men practices begin weeks earlier traditional date long teams held days practice weeks prior regular season game change provide flexible scheduling accommodated days preseason practice schedule women programs rejected moving date forward conflict recruiting result practices beginning early teams opted celebrate midnight madness later week practice window details 21st century basketball programs large division schools planned rally music dancing festivities encourage support program celebrity guests alumni participate entertaining students significant publicity surrounding event include televised broadcasts published press releases new media exposure occurrences events included coach participation men basketball coach riding motorcycle court men basketball coach rising coffin signing week recruits sign letters intent commit specific schools occur november blue chip high school recruits welcomed events junior years usually prescribed number fans receive gifts shirts posters road game vacation packages free events student chosen half court shot events televised live sports networks times highlights shown highlight shows espn begun extensive yearly coverage midnight madness events televised events events reported years print media newspapers magazines internet prime time event premier basketball programs schools continued tradition having practice day regular practice allowed held record attendance type sports rally attendance arena kentucky sold multiple times big blue madness men basketball season fans camp lines days advance obtain tickets celebratory function evening raise final banners official ceremony finalists men basketball men basketball teams respective midnight madness event october celebrations occurred campuses sampling aired espn family networks big conference schools celebrated exceptions teams attempted host association special early restricted practices instead day regular practices universities felt football teams home games week opening date formal practices traditional midnight madness date better holding weekend teams allowed practice hours week september october known offseason rule notable public practice session illinois kentucky marshall west_virginia held weekly practices daily practices permitted illinois fighting men basketball women basketball teams hosted memorial stadium october game football team minnesota golden football team attendance football game event described world largest basketball practice reports practice session events occurred halftime game kentucky schools held public practice event week early lure recruiting prospects week programs hosting similar events asked force kentucky adhere traditionally scheduled practice avail petitioned ncaa unsuccessfully kentucky coach contacted kentucky compliance office sec ncaa ensure rules violated illinois head coach received permission early practice festivities ncaa proposed having september session association home football game date likelihood favorable day terms climate date preceded offseason rule dates anticipated future public basketball practices linked offseason rule banned illinois claimed date change intended recruiting advantage terms scheduling conflicts
Midnight Madness (basketball)