Big Blue Madness is here. Recap Kentucky basketball tipoff event at Rupp Arena (2025)

LEXINGTON — Kentucky men's basketball officially begins a new chapter in its illustrious history Friday night, as the annual Big Blue Madness event will be held at Rupp Arena.

It will be the first time the Wildcats' fan base has an 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 media members and NBA scouts. Not a single scholarship player returns for Kentucky from last season's squad.

But the men's program isn't the only one in the midst of upheaval.

UK's women's teamalso has a new coach inKenny Brooks. The women's team will be on hand and participate inFriday night's festivities, noteworthy for the use ofan ASB GlassFloor, a full LED video sports floor. WhileBrooks' group also will look starkly differentfrom last season'sKyra Elzy-led club, there is one difference from the men's team: The women's squad brings back two players from the 2023-24 campaign in guardsCassidy RoweandSaniah Tyler.

Courier Journal sports reporterRyan Blackand photographersJeff FaughenderandClare Grantare at Rupp Arena and will have live updates throughout Big Blue Madness — here and on X, formerly known as Twitter — and complete coverage after. You can follow them on X at@RyanABlack,@JFauGFXand@ClareGPhotos.

Below, you'll find live updates from the event:

Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino addresses Rupp Arena crowd

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

Watch his thoughts in the video below.

Rick Pitino returns to Rupp Arena to end Big Blue Madness

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

None received a bigger ovation than former coach Rick Pitino, who was in Rupp Arena for the first time since Dec. 26, 2015. When he was the head coach at Louisville. In a game UK won, 75-73.

Watch Kentucky freshman guard Travis Perry's winning performance in 3-point contest

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

Travis Perry takes down Trent Noah for victory in Kentucky men's basketball 3-point contest

In the all-freshman, all Kentucky native 3-point final, Travis Perry topped Trent Noah.

Here are the first-round scores from each of the six participants:

• Travis Perry: 25

• Trent Noah: 22

• Koby Brea: 21

• Jaxson Robinson: 21

• Ansley Almonor: 18

• Kerr Kriisa: 18

Watch Kentucky freshman guard Collin Chandler's perfect dunk

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

Collin Chandler beats Lamont Butler in dunk contest

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

Collin Chandler had 43 in the first and then a perfect 50 in the second for a score of 93. In the second, he dunked over coach Mark Pope and his wife, Lee Anne. Chandler donned the No. 41 jersey Pope wore during his time as a Wildcat.

Kentucky men's basketball coach Mark Pope's entrance at Big Blue Madness

Kentucky freshman guard Travis Perry's entrance at Big Blue Madness

Kentucky freshman forward Trent Noah's entrance at Big Blue Madness

LED floor changes to football field as coach Mark Stoops takes the mic

Dazia Lawrence takes 1st place in Kentucky women's basketball 3-point contest

Guard Dazia Lawrence took home 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 scores from each of the four competitors:

• Amelia Hassett: 23

• Dazia Lawrence: 17

• Georgia Amoore: 10

• Cassidy Rowe: 10

Amelia Hassett and Teonni Key win 'hot spot' contest

The duo of Amelia Hassett and Teonni Key took first place in the "hot spot" contest with 27 points. That topped the pairing of Cassidy Rowe and Clara Silva by one point (26). Lexi Blue/Clara Strack finished with 22 points.

Points were determined by making shots on "hot spots" on the court, which lit up with point values.

White team beats Blue squad in Kentucky women's basketball skills challenge

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

New Kentucky women's basketball head coach Kenny Brooks takes the floor

2025 guard Acaden Lewis on official visit

Four-star 2025 guard Acaden Lewis is on an official visit to Lexington this weekend, which includes attending Big Blue Madness.

Check out a couple scenes from the OV so far in the embedded posts below.

What's on Big Blue Madness schedule?

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

Kentucky men's basketball head coach Mark Pope, wife Lee Anne show off attire prior to Big Blue Madness

Kentucky men's basketball 2024-25 schedule

• 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

• Nov. 9: vs. Bucknell (Rupp Arena), 4 p.m., SEC Network+

• Nov. 12: vs. Duke (Champions Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta), 9 p.m., ESPN

• Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+

• Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network+

• Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky (Rupp Arena), 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

• Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network

• Dec. 3: at Clemson (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9:30 p.m., ESPN

• Dec. 7: vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle), Time TBA

• Dec. 11: vs. Colgate (Rupp Arena), 8 p.m., ESPN2

• Dec. 14: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena), 5:15 p.m., ESPN

• Dec. 21: vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York), 5:30 p.m., CBS

• Dec. 31: vs. Brown (Rupp Arena), 2 p.m., ESPNU

• Jan. 4: vs. Florida (Rupp Arena), 11 a.m., ESPN

• Jan. 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

• Jan. 28: at Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN

• Feb. 1: vs. Arkansas (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m., ESPN

• Feb. 4: atOle Miss, 7 p.m., ESPN

• Feb. 8: vs. South Carolina (Rupp Arena), noon, ESPN/ESPN2

• Feb. 11: vs. Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., ESPN

• Feb. 15: at Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN

• Feb. 19: vs. Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m., SEC Network

• Feb. 22: at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN

• Feb. 26: at Oklahoma, 9 p.m., SEC Network

• March 1: vs. Auburn (Rupp Arena), 1/4 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

Kentucky men's basketball 2024-25 roster

• Ansley Almonor (forward, senior)

• Koby Brea (guard, graduate)

• Lamont Butler (guard, graduate)

• Andrew Carr (forward, graduate)

• Collin Chandler (guard, freshman)

• Grant Darbyshire (guard, junior)

• Brandon Garrison (forward, sophomore)

• Walker Horn (guard, junior)

• Kerr Kriisa (guard, 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)

Kentucky women's basketball 2024-25 schedule

The Kentucky women's basketball team will open the season at home Nov. 4, hosting USC Upstate. The game is slated to tip off at 5 p.m.

Click here to see the Wildcats' full 2024-25 schedule.

Kentucky women's basketball 2024-25 roster

• Georgia Amoore (guard, graduate)

• Tanah Becker (guard, freshman)

• Lexi Blue (guard, freshman)

• Gabby Brooks (guard, sophomore)

• Amelia Hassett (forward, junior)

• Teonni Key (junior, forward)

• Dazia Lawrence (guard, fifth-year senior)

• Jordan Obi (guard, graduate)

• Dominika Paurová (guard, sophomore)

• Cassidy Rowe (guard, junior)

• Clara Silva (center, freshman)

• Clara Strack (center, sophomore)

• Saniah Tyler (guard, junior)

Kentucky basketball Big Blue Madness time today

• Date:Friday, Oct. 11

• Time:7 p.m.

• Location:Rupp Arena; Lexington

What channel is Kentucky basketball Big Blue Madness on today?

• TV channel:SEC Network

• Streaming:Fubo(free trial)

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

Kentucky basketball Big Blue Madness tickets

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

What high school basketball recruits are attending Big Blue Madness?

Kentucky basketballwill have two high-profile visitors in attendance Friday night for Big Blue Madness: Acaden Lewis, a four-star guard in the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite, is in townfor an official visit. Also taking in the event will beAnthony Thompson, a five-star small forward in the 2026 cycle in 247Sports' Composite ratings.

Read more about both prospects, as well as the Wildcats' recruiting efforts in the 2025 and 2026 classes, by clicking here.

Kentucky basketball news

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

Pro day takeaways:Andrew Carr and Trent Noah impress in front of NBA scouts

3 keys for success:These factors will determine how good 2024-25 Wildcats are

3 questions:UK must answer these questions in 2024-25 to see success

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 recruiting tracker:Learn about Mark Pope's two commitments so far

Jasper Johnson:Five-star combo guard and UK legacy is the second member of Kentucky basketball's 2025 recruiting class. What to know

Kentucky basketball recruiting:Mark Pope has offers out to these players in 2025 class

First-year phenom?Reed Sheppard among favorites for NBA Rookie of Year. See odds for other ex-Wildcats

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

Malachi Moreno:In-state star becomes Kentucky basketball's first 2025 commitment. Here's what to know

Equilibrium:Kentucky basketball additions under Mark Pope lauded for balance on offense, defense

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

Unbreakable?These Kentucky basketball records will be hard to top

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Mark Pope, Kenny Brooks at Rupp Arena event