Great Moments In Big Blue Madness History

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To celebrate the return of “The Greatest Spectacle In College Basketball Practice,” join me in reliving some of KSR’s favorite Big Blue Madness moments of the John Calipari era.

 

2009: The John Wall Dance is born

Legend has it, DeMarcus Cousins planned to do the dance first, but Cousins did not enjoy being elevated on the platform and wouldn’t let go of the handrails, thus paving the way for Wall to steal the show.

 

2009: John Calipari addresses his nation for the first time

My friends, we have an enormous mountain to climb. Tonight, we are at the base of that mountain. Other programs begin this pre-season returning the same coach, the same players, the same offense. . . they are miles ahead of us and half way up the mountain.

Our team, on the other hand, has a new system, a new style, new players, new coaches. . .almost everything is foreign and unknown.

But what we do have is a wealth of skill, energy and determination. if I have my choice between experience and talent, I’m taking talent every time.

 

2010: The UnderKanter appears

#FreeEnes, forever and always.

 

2011: John Calipari’s first Final Four banner is raised

He would go on to win his first national championship later that season.

 

2012: Rupp Arena floor transforms into projection screen

Kentucky basketball’s first practice began with an innovative new way to show video when the arena’s floor became a 92-foot projection screen, displaying a highlight reel video from the program’s past through present.

 

2013: Wham City Lights gets the crowd involved

Fans used their phones to illuminate the 2013 Big Blue Madness via an app that synchronized a pre-programmed cell phone light show with the arena’s music.

 

2014: Drake’s airball

It’s been four years and the internet still laughs at this.

 

2014: Calipari’s “Let’s ball”

Before his team won 38 consecutive games in 2014-15, Calipari dropped the mic at Big Blue Madness.

 

2015: The projection screen floor returns

The Rupp Arena floor transformed into a projection screen once again, with a little help from Drake and a glass of wine.

 

2016: Matthew Mitchell and the UK women’s team stole the show

What’s a Best of Big Blue Madness without Coach Mitchell? His intro in 2016 took some serious choreography.

 

2017: Kentucky Dad

Drake came back for another Madness and singlehandedly increased sales of the “Kentucky Dad” hoodie by a million percent.

 

2018: ?????

We’ll find out tonight!