Date for Big Blue Madness is set as a new era of UK basketball begins in Rupp Arena
The date has been set for the ceremonial start of Kentucky basketball season.
The 2024 edition of Big Blue Madness will take place Oct. 11 in Rupp Arena, the university announced Thursday afternoon. This year’s Madness celebration will mark the beginning of two UK basketball eras, with Mark Pope making his debut as the men’s head coach and Kenny Brooks starting his first season as the women’s head coach.
Pope, who won a national championship as a player with the Wildcats in 1996, spent the past five years as BYU’s coach. Brooks spent the previous eight seasons as Virginia Tech’s coach, leading that program to an ACC title and a berth in the Final Four in 2023.
Big Blue Madness has traditionally coincided with the first day of practice for the Wildcats, though the event has more recently transformed into a celebration for the teams as they head into their respective seasons. It’s also expected to remain a major recruiting showcase as Pope and Brooks continue to build their future rosters, with both teams expected to have talented prospects from the 2025 class (and beyond) on campus that weekend.
Additional information — including how and when tickets to Madness will be distributed — is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Pope has already expressed interest in bringing back the campout for this year’s Madness, though no plans for that revival have been confirmed.
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This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM.
