| Midnight Madness (and variations) | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:20081017_Kansas_Midnight_Madness_lines.jpg) Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball fans wait to attend Late Night in the Phog. | |
| Genre | Athletic exhibition and celebration |
| Dates | Friday near October 15 |
| Location(s) | Individual schools |
| Years active | 1970 to 71–present |
Midnight Madness is an annual event celebrating the upcoming college basketball season in which a team opens its first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan-friendly activities. The tradition originated from teams holding public practices at midnight on the earliest day that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) would allow a practice to be held. In 2013, a new NCAA rule established some flexibility around the opening of a team's practice sessions. As a result, the dates on which teams celebrate Midnight Madness can vary, but most stick with the traditional date of a Friday night closest to October 15.