UK basketball fans eagerly flooded into Rupp Arena for Big Blue Madness (BBM) night on Oct. 11. This annual event is known to many Kentucky fans as a time to come together to showcase the talent of the men’s and women’s players for the upcoming seasons.
In addition to welcoming two new head coaches, Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks, this year’s BBM included the unveiling of a new floor at Rupp Arena. The ASB GlassFoor uses LED technology to showcase interactive features and videos.
UK alumnus Landon Ray said he started attending this event long before he was a student. “Kentucky basketball is rich in tradition. It runs generations deep with me,” he said.
The new floor not only brought excitement to longtime fans but also encouraged new fans to attend.
“I am not big on basketball, but hearing that something new was coming to Kentucky, it made me want to go be a part of that unveiling,” UK student Ainsley Luse said.
In a press release, Brooks said adding this new technology will increase fans’ excitement.
“Big Blue Madness is famous throughout the college basketball world. Since we saw the ASB GlassFloor at the U19 World Cup last year, we’ve been intrigued by the possibilities playing on this court,” he said.
Many fans said they look forward to the upcoming basketball season.
“I grew up on a farm, and this is the only thing that got my dad off of a tractor. It was watching Kentucky basketball,” Brock Cradock, from Glasgow, Kentucky, said.
