Sept. 27, 2001

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Big Blue Madness, the Wildcats’ first team practice of the 2001-02 season, will be held at Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 12, 2001. This year’s event marks the 20th year for Madness at Kentucky and the theme will be entitled, “Midnight Special,” which was name of the first event held in October, 1982.

Doors open at 10 p.m. and the program begins at 10:30 p.m. The 2001-02 Wildcats will be introduced at midnight. The UK women’s volleyball team will play Alabama at 7 p.m. that night in the Coliseum. Should the time of the match run longer than 9:30 p.m., the gym will be cleared and the doors will open 30 minutes after the volleyball game’s conclusion.

This is the earliest Madness in school history. NCAA rules permit Division I college basketball teams to begin practice “the closest Saturday to Oct. 15.” This year, the first day of official practice begins Oct. 13.

Once again, free tickets to Madness will be offered to the public. On Saturday, Oct. 6, tickets will be distributed at 9 a.m. at the front windows of the Coliseum. Two tickets will be allotted per person. For fans unable to pick up tickets in person, seats also will be available at the same time on UK’s official Web site, ukathletics.com. A service charge of $3 will be assessed per Internet order.