Big Blue Nation's DOs and DO NOTs in Indianapolis

DrewFranklinKSR

Thousands upon thousands of Kentucky fans will travel to lovely Indianapolis, Indiana this week to attend the Wildcats' first and second round games of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. And with it being such a close locations for Kentuckians, many of the Big Blue faithful will make be making their first trip to Naptown to watch postseason basketball. If you fall into the category of first-time attendee, please consider the following DOs and DON'Ts while you are visiting our nation's 12th largest city. Those of you who have already been can learn a thing or two, too.

DOs and DO NOTs

DO find something to keep you entertained on your drive through Indiana.

Download plenty of podcasts or new music or audiobooks from your favorite author because the drive through the Hoosier state is among the worst of its kind. Passengers, you can watch movies or play on your phones the entire time. Drivers, good luck. I hope you have passengers.

DO NOT kill yourself because the drive is so bad.

At some point it will get tempting to drive full speed into a dairy barn or to pull over and hang yourself from one of those windmills with a luggage strap, but suck it up and maintain the course. You will make it to Indianapolis, eventually. I'm sorry it feels like it takes two days to drive two hours.

DO attend Thursday's open practice, if you're able.

If you're going to be in the Indianapolis area on Thursday, Kentucky is scheduled to hold its open practice from 5:10 — 5:50 p.m. in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The practice is 100 percent free and open to the public.

DO NOT attend Louisville's open practice.

Unless, of course, you are going to boo and yell things at Rick Pitino. In that case, I will see you there.

DO stop by the UK Alumni Pregame Party at Tin Roof.

From 4:00 — 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, the UK Alumni Association will conduct a pep rally at Tin Roof Indianapolis with appearances from the cheerleaders, mascots and UK pep band. Tin Roof is conveniently located directly across the street from Bankers Life Fieldhouse on the corner of Maryland and Pennsylvania, so this will be the place to be prior to the game.

DO NOT go looking for Friday's KSR morning and/or pregame shows.

Matt and Ryan decided to stay in Lexington so there will be no public shows in Indianapolis as they are doing them in studio back in Kentucky. The location of Sunday's pregame show is TBD. We'll let you know.

DO celebrate Saint Patrick's Day while you're in town.

Although it is only a legal American holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts and in Savannah, Georgia; Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated throughout the United States as a recognition of Irish and Irish American culture. Many use it as an excuse to, for lack of better words, get extremely blackout drunk and pinch people. Tin Roof Indianapolis will accommodate all of your Saint Patrick's Day drinking needs, as well as any blacking out or pinching you may be interested in.

DO NOT get too drunk before the Kentucky game.

With the late tip-off Friday night, I fear that many of our brethren in Big Blue Nation will drown themselves in green beer and miss the Cats' game. This goes for those in Indianapolis and anywhere else. So drink responsibly, BBN. It's peak basketball season.

DO go to St. Elmo Steak House for the shrimp cocktail.

The four jumbo shrimp and cocktail sauce make for a delicious appetizer that is considered "world famous."

DO NOT overdo it with the cocktail sauce.

The spicy, signature cocktail sauce will put you on your back if you're not careful, so tread lightly or you'll be calling for a medic. The smallest dab will open your sinuses like nothing you've ever experienced and I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is embarrassing to choke on it while sitting by yourself at an empty bar in the 1933 lounge with two very good-looking blonde bartenders looking at each wondering who is going to have to explain this to the next of kin. That was embarrassing.

DO avoid Louisville fans at all costs.

They'll be everywhere downtown, throwing their Ls and drinking their malt liquor out of their brown paper bags and puking it back up onto their Big Time Yurts tanktops. If you somehow end up in the same drinking/dining establishment as a Louisville fan, promptly notify management that one was allowed in so it can be taken care of professionally and in a timely manner. If the drinking/dining establishment you're in has more than one Louisville fan, you did a really bad job picking a drinking/dining establishment and you should get the hell out immediately before you find yourself in a sticky situation. To play it safe, I would avoid likely spots for the UofL pre- and post-parties, like PT's Showclub, the Red Garter or the Classy Chassy.