Just like that the 2024 version of Big Blue Madness is in the books and it was one of the better ones I have seen in many years. This officially puts us in both the Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks eras for Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball. There’s a new sense of excitement around both programs that I can best explain as contagious.
Just like always the women’s team were up first and Kenny Brooks’ entrance was one for the books. Rupp Arena was rocking as they got introduced to the new era of Kentucky women’s basketball. Brooks encouraged fans to bring this amount of excitement and energy into Historical Memorial Coliseum as they embark on their journey to win championships. Yes, “championships” as in plural. That’s the confidence this program so desperately needed.
The first order of business was for the women’s basketball team Skills Competition. This involved the Skills Challenge, the Hot Spot Contest, and the Three-Point Contest.
During the women’s three-point contest the team had four competitors, these included Cassidy Rowe, Georgia Amoore, Dazia Lawrence, and Amelia Hassett. Both Amelia Hassett and Dazia Lawrence made it to the final round where Lawrence dominated with a score of 23. Big Blue Nation is really going to enjoy both Dazia Lawrence and Amelia Hassett. They both can shoot the lights out when they get going.
One really cool moment of Big Blue Madness was when they were doing the player introductions for the men’s basketball team. They had they scattered in several different sections of Rupp Arena where they could greet fans, take pictures, and throw out t-shirts. The best intro in my opinion was when freshman, Trent Noah, walked out to ‘You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive’ by Patty Loveless.
Also, San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler had an awesome entrance as well as he came out to one of his own songs.
The men’s team started out with running practice drills such as four-on-four and even some five-on-five. Then there was both the men’s basketball three-point contest and dunk contest. The first round of the three-point contest had six Wildcats competing, those included Travis Perry, Jaxson Robinson, Trent Noah, Ansley Almonor, Kerr Kriisa, and Koby Brea. The two Kentucky natives, Travis Perry and Trent Noah, made the Finals of the three-point contest where Perry squeaked out as the winner by just one point.
During the Dunk Contest it was only Lamont Butler and Collin Chandler. Collin Chandler was this year’s winner after bringing out the head coach and his wife as he was able to dunk over them, earning a perfect score of 50 points to beat Lamont Butler.
Overall, the coolest moment of the night was when Mark Stoops had them play the same video that they played during his introductory press conference. After this, several players all from different decades and flooded the court carrying championship trophies from all eight national titles. It was then that former head coach, Rick Pitino, entered the building with the 1996 trophy. This was by far the loudest I have ever heard Rupp Arena, so that answers the age old question, time can heal all wounds.
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