Big Blue Madness preview, visitors, how to watch, and Friday headlines

Kentucky Wildcats basketball is back, folks!

There is no better way to kick off the season than with a packed Rupp Arena on Friday night for Big Blue Madness.

As it has been for the last several seasons you will be able to watch the intros and open practice on the SEC Network and on WatchESPN. It is scheduled to start at 7 pm ET.

The event will feature both the men’s and women’s teams as they will go through practice drills as well as scrimmage on Friday night.

After a tough year for the men’s basketball program, John Calipari revamped his roster and his staff to bring the swagger back to Kentucky Basketball.

Alongside personnel changes, Coach Cal has also adapted a new philosophy to how this team will play, and fans across BBN will be excited to see the more modern style of offense that will be run.

Similar to Mark Stoops going to the NFL to bring in Liam Coen to energize his offense, Calipari spent some time with Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse this offseason, to talk through ideas of the new dribble-drive offense fans will see this season.

And of course, John Calipari will always have hard-nosed defensive teams. You can change some things about a coach, but defense will always be his bread and butter.

Kyra Elzy had a successful first season as the head coach of the Women’s team. She led the team to another NCAA Tournament and kept a top 20 ranking throughout the entire season.

The women’s team returns a large portion of their production from last season, including First-Team All American Rhyne Howard. The expectations will once again be high for Howard and the Wildcats, but this team should have the firepower to make another run in the SEC.

As always, Madness will be a high-profile recruiting weekend, with several big name prospects on campus to see the event for their own eyes.

On campus this weekend from the Class of 2023 are top-five recruits DJ Wagner and Mackenzie Mgbako, who will be on official visits. Also on campus for an unofficial visit will be 5-star guard and legacy recruit Reed Sheppard, as well as 3-star 2023 center Cyr Malonga.

For the Class of 2022, the only name reported that will be in attendance is point guard commit Skyy Clark.

Here’s to the start of basketball season BBN. Make sure Rupp is rocking on Friday night.

Big Blue Madness 2021

Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky

Start Time and Date: 7:00 pm ET on Oct. 15th

TV Channel: SEC Network

Live Online Stream: WatchESPN

Replay: WatchESPN

Kentucky Men’s Basketball Roster

Kentucky Women’s Basketball Roster

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Your Headlines

UK Men’s Basketball Game Day: What to Know for 2021-22
The basketball season tips off with Big Blue Madness tonight, and UK Athletics and Rupp Arena are announcing important game-day reminders ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Film Study: The Ramsification of the Kentucky Wildcats
In search of an offensive evolution, Kentucky’s Mark Stoops followed the Ed Orgeron playbook and went to the NFL to try to capture the same magic.

OPINION: Football creating its own Big Blue madness
It will be a tall order for the Wildcats at No. 1 Georgia Saturday, but they’ve already shown they can defy the odds by beating Florida and LSU convincingly during the past two weeks. The two victories are part of a crucial four-game stretch in five weeks that many considered would make or break the season for the Wildcats and that’s not including the border battle against Tennessee.

How Wan'Dale Robinson and Liam Coen joined forces to become a revelation in Lexington
The Bluegrass State has itself quite the duo.

Superlatives, evaluating UK football at the halfway mark
Josh Paschal was an easy pick for defensive MVP as he's been playing at an All-SEC level for the Wildcats this season. He leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss, has recorded 1.5 sacks and 25 tackles. The Maryland native showed up in a major way during Kentucky’s biggest win of the season vs. Florida.

Don Franklin Auto Blue Carpet Returns for Big Blue Madness
Before the big show gets started Friday at Big Blue Madness, fans will have the opportunity to see the Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball teams and VIPs arrive at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center on the blue carpet from 5:30-7 pm ET.

Georgia at Kentucky predictions: How can the Cats topple No. 1 on its home turf?
Georgia and Kentucky, in a lot of ways, are the same football team. Both play with ferocious physicality on both sides of the front. Both want to run the ball as much as possible. Both have defensive-minded skippers who’ve taken their programs to a higher level than they were when they arrived.

In 1977 Prince Charles and James Brown Watched Kentucky Blow Out Georgia
Once upon a time Prince Charles and the Godfather of Soul were treated to a beatdown of the Georgia Bulldogs on their home turf by Kentucky.

Is No. 11 Kentucky vs. No. 1 Georgia the biggest UK football game ever?
Could an undefeated Wildcats team playing the number one team in the country relatively late in the season for the SEC East lead be the biggest game in Kentucky football history?

Kentucky is wearing the Citrus Bowl uniforms at No. 1 Georgia
The Wildcats have won big games in this beautiful uniform combination. They’ll try to replicate that success against No. 1 Georgia.

Bud’s Bets is 58% against the spread: College football gambling picks for Week 7
Including a pick for Kentucky to cover the spread at Georgia.