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Mark Pope, Kenny Brooks at the event at Rupp Arena
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Mark Pope, Kenny Brooks at the event at Rupp Arena

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LEXINGTON – Kentucky men's basketball officially begins a new chapter in its illustrious history Friday night as the annual Big Blue Madness event takes place at Rupp Arena.

It's the first time the Wildcats fan base will have the opportunity to see first-year coach Mark Pope's team take the floor in front of a live audience. Monday's pro day at Memorial Coliseum was limited to members of the media and NBA scouts. Not a single scholarship player returns from last season's roster for Kentucky.

But it's not just the men's program that is undergoing change.

The British women's team also has a new coach in Kenny Brooks. The women's team will be on site and take part in the festivities on Friday evening, which will be highlighted by the use of an ASB GlassFloora full LED video sports floor. While Brooks' group will be significantly different from last season's Kyra Elzy-led team, there is one difference to the men's team: The women's team returns two players from the 2023-24 season in guards Cassidy Rowe and Saniah Tyler.

Courier Journal sports reporter Ryan Black and photographers Jeff Faughender and Clare Grant are at Rupp Arena and will be reporting live updates throughout Big Blue Madness – here and on X, formerly known as Twitter – and in-depth coverage afterwards report. You can follow them on X below @RyanABlack@JFauGFX and @ClareGPhotos.

Below are live updates from the event:

After gracing the Rupp Arena floor at the conclusion of the Big Blue Madness event Friday night, former UK coach Rick Pitino grabbed a microphone.

Check out his thoughts in the video below.

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Coach Rick Pitino is feeling the love at Big Blue Madness

Former Kentucky basketball coach Rick Pitino appeared at Big Blue Madness to support his former player and current coach Mark Pope.

Living members of Kentucky's eight national title teams took the floor to crown Big Blue Madness.

No one received a bigger ovation than former coach Rick Pitino, who was in Rupp Arena for the first time since December 26, 2015. At the time, he was the head coach at Louisville. In one game, Great Britain won 75-73.

Check out Travis Perry's outstanding performance in the final round of Friday night's 3-point contest in the video embedded below.

In the 3-point final for the all-Kentucky freshmen, Travis Perry got the better of Trent Noah.

Here are the first round results from each of the six participants:

  • Travis Perry: 25
  • Trent Noah: 22
  • Koby Brea: 21
  • Jaxson Robinson: 21
  • Ansley Almonor: 18
  • Kerr Kriisa: 18

Check out the slam that won Collin Chandler in the dunk contest on Friday night in the embedded video below.

Lamont Butler had 36 points in both rounds of the dunk contest for a total score of 72.

Collin Chandler had a 43 in the first and then a perfect 50 in the second for a score of 93. In the second he prevailed against trainer Mark Pope and his wife Lee Anne. Chandler wore the No. 41 jersey that Pope wore during his time as a Wildcat.

Guard Dazia Lawrence won the trophy in the 3-point shootout, scoring 23 points in the final round. Fellow finalist Amelia Hassett had 12 in the championship round.

Here are the first round results from each of the four participants:

  • Amelia Hassett: 23
  • Dazia Lawrence: 17
  • Georgia Amoore: 10
  • Cassidy Rowe: 10

The duo of Amelia Hassett and Teonni Key took first place in the “Hot Spot” competition with 27 points. This surpassed the pair of Cassidy Rowe and Clara Silva by one point (26). Lexi Blue/Clara Strack finished the race with 22 points.

Points were determined by shots at “hot spots” on the field that lit up with point values.

The three-person skills challenge was won by trio Lexi Blue, Dazia Lawrence and Teonni Key. It defeated the blue team consisting of Georgia Amoore, Clara Strack and Saniah Tyler.

Four-star 2025 guard Acaden Lewis is in Lexington this weekend for an official visit that includes participating in Big Blue Madness.

Check out a few scenes from the original version in the embedded posts below.

Check out the list of events and participants in said contests during Friday's Big Blue Madness featuring the Kentucky women's and men's basketball teams in the embedded post below.

  • Oct. 18: Blue-White Game (Memorial Coliseum), 6 p.m
  • Oct. 23: Exhibition vs. Kentucky Wesleyan (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+
  • Oct. 29: Exhibition vs. Minnesota State Mankato (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+
  • Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPNU
  • November 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena), 4 p.m., SEC Network+
  • November 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta), 9 p.m., ESPN
  • November 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+
  • November 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+
  • Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena), 6:30 p.m., ESPNU
  • November 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network
  • December 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9:30 p.m., ESPN
  • December 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle), time to be announced
  • December 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena), 8 p.m., ESPN2
  • December 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena), 5:15 p.m., ESPN
  • December 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York), 5:30 p.m., CBS
  • December 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena), 2 p.m., ESPNU
  • January 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena), 11 a.m., ESPN
  • January 7: at Georgia, time 7 p.m., SEC Network
  • Jan. 11: at Mississippi State, 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
  • Jan. 14: vs. Texas A&M (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU
  • Jan. 18: vs. Alabama (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN
  • Jan. 25: at Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m., ESPN/2
  • January 28: at Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN
  • February 1: vs. Arkansas (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m., ESPN
  • February 4: at Ole Miss, 7 p.m., ESPN
  • February 8: vs. South Carolina (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN/ESPN2
  • February 11: vs. Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN
  • February 15: in Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN
  • February 19: vs. Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network
  • February 22: at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN
  • February 26: at Oklahoma, 9 p.m., SEC Network
  • March 1: vs. Auburn (Rupp Arena), 1 p.m., ABC/ESPN
  • March 4: vs. LSU (Rupp Arena), 7/9 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
  • March 8: at Missouri, noon, ESPN/SEC Network

  • Ansley Almonor (Forward, Senior)
  • Koby Brea (guard, graduate)
  • Lamont Butler (guard, graduate)
  • Andrew Carr (striker, graduate)
  • Collin Chandler (guard, freshman)
  • Grant Darbyshire (guard, junior)
  • Brandon Garrison (forward, sophomore)
  • Walker Horn (guard, junior)
  • Kerr Kriisa (Guardian, Senior)
  • Trent Noah (forward, freshman)
  • Otega Oweh (guard, junior)
  • Travis Perry (guard, freshman)
  • Jaxson Robinson (guard, graduate)
  • Zach Tow (Forward, Junior)
  • Amari Williams (center, graduate)

The Kentucky women's basketball team will open the season at home on November 4th, hosting USC Upstate. The game is scheduled to end at 5 p.m

Click here to view the Wildcats' complete 2024-25 schedule.

  • Georgia Amoore (guard, graduate)
  • Tanah Becker (guard, freshman)
  • Lexi Blue (Guardian, Freshman)
  • Gabby Brooks (guard, sophomore)
  • Amelia Hassett (striker, junior)
  • Teonni Key (junior, striker)
  • Dazia Lawrence (Guardian, fifth grader)
  • Jordan Obi (guard, graduate)
  • Dominika Paurová (guard, sophomore)
  • Cassidy Rowe (guard, junior)
  • Clara Silva (center, freshman)
  • Clara Strack (middle, second semester)
  • Saniah Tyler (guard, junior)

  • Date: Friday, October 11th
  • Time: 7 p.m
  • Location: Rupp Arena; Lexington
  • TV channels: SEC Network
  • Streaming: Fubo (free trial)

Kentucky's Big Blue Madness event will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. Streaming options for the event include FUBO, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

All available tickets for Big Blue Madness have already been sold.

Kentucky Basketball will have two high-profile visitors Friday night at Big Blue Madness: Acaden Lewis, a four-star guard in the 2025 class according to the 247Sports Composite, is in town for an official visit. Also taking part in the event will be Anthony Thompson, a five-star small forward in the 2026 cycle in the 247Sports Composite Rating.

Click here to learn more about both prospects as well as the Wildcats' recruiting efforts in the 2025 and 2026 classes.

Rick Pitino: Former Kentucky coach will be at UK/Vandy football game. But will he be at Big Blue Madness?

Pro Day Takeaways: Andrew Carr and Trent Noah impress NBA scouts

3 keys to success: These factors will determine how good the Wildcats are in 2024-25

3 questions: The UK must answer these questions in 2024-25 to succeed

Measuring sticks: How good will Kentucky basketball be under Mark Pope in 2024-25? These 5 games will show what the Wildcats are made of.

Cody Fueger: Assistant coach has made a name for himself with offensive innovation

UK Basketball 2025 Recruitment Tracker: Find out more about Mark Pope's two previous commitments

Jasper Johnson: The five-star combo guard and British legacy is the second member of Kentucky Basketball's 2025 recruiting class. What you should know

Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Mark Pope has made offers to these players in the 2025 class

A first-year phenomenon? Reed Sheppard is one of the favorites to be named NBA Rookie of the Year. See odds for other ex-Wildcats

Considerations behind the decision: The moment 2025 prospect Malachi Moreno knew he would commit to Kentucky basketball

Malachi Moreno: The in-state star will become Kentucky's first basketball commitment in 2025. Here's what you should know

Balance: Kentucky basketball recruits under Mark Pope have been praised for their balance on offense and defense

“There’s a lot to love”: Kentucky's basketball roster under Mark Pope is highlighted by depth

Unbreakable? These Kentucky basketball records will be hard to top

Reach Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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