Ayrton Oneill
Midnight Madness is a highly anticipated annual event in the college basketball calendar. It is a gala event that marks the start of the basketball season, with teams from across the country taking part in a wave of midnight madness events. The event is a combination of player introductions, an open-to-the-public intrasquad scrimmage, a dunk contest, a three-point contest, and often a musical act, choreographed dance routine, or skit. While the event is no longer held at midnight, as per its namesake, it still builds hype for the upcoming season, with many schools hosting Midnight Madness events for their students and fans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Midnight on the first official day of practice, though many schools have moved away from this |
| Time | Various times throughout October |
| Location | Various campuses |
| Participants | Basketball teams, students, fans, celebrity guests, alumni |
| Activities | Player introductions, intrasquad scrimmages, dunk contests, three-point contests, musical acts, choreographed dance routines, skits, giveaways |
| Purpose | To build hype for the upcoming basketball season |
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What You'll Learn
- Midnight Madness events are held at various times throughout October
- The tradition began at the University of Maryland in 1971
- The events are a combination of player introductions, scrimmages, dunk contests, and musical acts
- Schools often give away gifts to fans, such as t-shirts, posters, and autographs
- Midnight Madness events are often televised or live-streamed
Midnight Madness events are held at various times throughout October
Midnight Madness is a highly anticipated event in the college basketball calendar, marking the start of the season for many fans. The event was started by Maryland Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell in 1971, who began the tradition of an early morning practice session at 12:03 am on October 15, inviting the public to a 1.5-mile team run.
While the name originates from these midnight start times, today, Midnight Madness events are held at various times throughout October, and not always at midnight. The events are a combination of practice and a pep rally, with player introductions, intrasquad scrimmages, dunk contests, three-point contests, and often musical performances or dance routines.
The events are used to build hype for the upcoming season, and many schools give away gifts to the first 1,000 fans, such as t-shirts, posters, and autographs. The events are also often televised, with sports networks like ESPN and the Big Ten Network broadcasting live or showing highlights.
Midnight Madness events are a great opportunity for fans to get an early look at their favorite teams and players. For example, Michigan State fans can catch an early glimpse of both the men's and women's squads at the Midnight Madness event, which is an annual tradition for the school.
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The tradition began at the University of Maryland in 1971
Midnight Madness is a tradition in high school and college basketball that marks the start of the basketball season. The tradition began at the University of Maryland in 1971, when Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell sent his players on a one-mile run just after midnight to kick off the season. Driesell intended this gesture to announce Maryland's arrival on the basketball scene. The event was attended by 3,000 fans and Driesell continued the annual midnight practice throughout his time at Maryland. He even brought the tradition with him when he moved to Georgia State University.
Over time, Midnight Madness has evolved into a gala event, often featuring celebrity guests, musical performances, and other entertainment. Many schools have moved away from holding the event at midnight, but it remains a highly anticipated occurrence for basketball fans and students alike. The event is often televised and widely publicised, with some schools giving away free t-shirts, posters, and other paraphernalia to a set number of fans.
The University of Maryland, College Park, is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. It was founded in 1856 and is the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland. The university's athletic teams are known as the Maryland Terrapins and compete in NCAA Division I.
The Midnight Madness tradition has spread beyond the University of Maryland, with schools like the University of Kansas, Georgetown University, and Gonzaga University also hosting notable Midnight Madness events. These events often include intrasquad scrimmages, three-point shooting contests, and slam dunk contests, with both men's and women's teams participating.
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The events are a combination of player introductions, scrimmages, dunk contests, and musical acts
Midnight Madness is an annual event celebrating the upcoming college basketball season, with teams opening their first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan-friendly activities. The tradition was started by Maryland Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell at 12:03 am on October 15, 1971, with a 1.5-mile team run attended by 3,000 fans.
The events often include player introductions, with celebrity guests and alumni participating in entertaining the students. Some of the more outlandish occurrences during such events included coach participation, such as Michigan State Spartans men's basketball coach Tom Izzo riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the court.
Scrimmages are a common feature of Midnight Madness events, with some schools scheduling intrasquad scrimmages, three-point shooting contests, and slam dunk contests. These events are often co-ed, with both the men's and women's teams participating in the celebration.
Musical acts have also become a part of Midnight Madness, with celebrities like Drake performing at "Big Blue Madness" at the University of Kentucky. Another famous event is "Late Night in the Phog" at Kansas, which is started by Larry Brown and is now broadcast via live streaming video on the internet.
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Schools often give away gifts to fans, such as t-shirts, posters, and autographs
Midnight Madness is a basketball tradition that marks the start of the basketball season. It is a highly anticipated event that combines a practice session with a pep rally, player introductions, an open-to-the-public intrasquad scrimmage, a dunk contest, a three-point contest, and often a musical act, dance routine, or skit. The event is usually held at midnight on the first official day of practice, although some schools have opted to hold it later in the practice window or during the weekend before to avoid conflicts with football home games.
Midnight Madness events are often televised and attended by celebrity guests and alumni, creating significant publicity and media exposure. Schools use this opportunity to promote their programs, raise school spirit, and engage their fans. Giving away gifts to fans is a common practice during these events, with items such as t-shirts, posters, autographs, and other paraphernalia being distributed to a prescribed number of fans, such as the first 1,000 attendees. These gifts serve as a tangible reminder of the event and help to foster a sense of connection and community within the school.
T-shirts are a popular choice for schools as they can be easily customized with the school logo, colors, and slogans, allowing fans to showcase their support and pride. Schools may also opt for other apparel items such as hats, hoodies, or drawstring bags, which can be used to raise funds for the school's PTA or booster club. These items are not only practical but also help to create a visual display of school spirit, especially when fans wear them during games or other school events.
Posters are another effective way to decorate fans' living spaces and showcase their support for the team. Autographed posters or photographs, featuring the signatures of players or coaches, add a special touch and become cherished collectibles for fans. These signed items hold a significant value for fans, serving as reminders of memorable moments and milestones in the team's history. Schools may also choose to give away other promotional items such as mugs, water bottles, or even tech accessories, all of which can be branded with the school logo to further promote school spirit and leave a lasting impression on the recipients.
Midnight Madness is more than just a basketball practice; it is a celebration of the sport, the team, and the school community. By giving away gifts to fans, schools create a sense of inclusion and foster a stronger connection between the fans and the team. These gifts become tokens of the fans' unwavering support and serve as mementos of the exciting Midnight Madness event.
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Midnight Madness events are often televised or live-streamed
Midnight Madness is a highly anticipated event in the basketball calendar, marking the start of the season for many college basketball fans. The event is so popular that it has been televised and live-streamed by various sports networks and media outlets.
ESPN+ has broadcast Midnight Madness events, including the University of Maryland's celebration in 2021, which marked 50 years since coach Lefty Driesell invented the tradition. ESPN's family of networks has also aired Midnight Madness celebrations, including those of the Kansas Jayhawks and Memphis Tigers in 2008. In addition, ESPNU has provided extensive yearly coverage of the events, including live broadcasts.
Other sports networks, such as the Big Ten Network, have also televised Midnight Madness events live. In 2008, the Big Ten Network televised events at Davidson College, the University of Kansas, Georgetown University, Gonzaga University, and Indiana University.
Beyond sports networks, Midnight Madness has received extensive coverage in print and digital media, including newspapers, magazines, and websites. This multi-platform coverage ensures that fans can follow the celebrations and participate in the excitement, even if they cannot attend in person.
The popularity of Midnight Madness has led to it becoming a prime-time event for many premier basketball programs. While some schools maintain the tradition of holding their first practice at midnight on the first day of regular practice, others have moved their celebrations to earlier time slots to accommodate wider audiences and media coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Midnight Madness is a basketball tradition that marks the start of the college basketball season. It is a combination of player introductions, an open-to-the-public intrasquad scrimmage, a dunk contest, a three-point contest, and often a musical act, choreographed dance routine, or skit.
Midnight Madness events take place at various times throughout October. While most schools have moved away from holding the events at midnight, they are still a huge deal for prominent basketball programs across the country.
Midnight Madness events are essentially a practice mixed with a pep rally. There are often player introductions, scrimmages, stunt dunks, three-point shooting contests, and slam dunk contests. The event is often co-ed, with both the men's and women's teams participating in the celebration.
