TicketsSept. 30, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- There will be no Midnight Madness at the University of Cincinnati, nor at most of the other Division I college basketball schools in the nation this season. That will not stop the Bearcats from getting an earlier start on practice for the 2005-06 campaign.
A new NCAA rule allows teams to begin practicing at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14, the Friday closest to Oct. 15, instead of the Saturday closest to Oct. 15. That means that teams won't have to wait until midnight on Friday to take the court.
In lieu of the dunk contest and scrimmage which capped previous Midnight Madness events, the Bearcats will use that extra time to conduct a full, closed-door session, which will help the players get accustomed to the style of interim head coach Andy Kennedy.
UC will invite fans to attend a three-hour open session on Saturday morning, from 9-a.m.-12 noon at Fifth Third Arena, which will give followers an earlier look at the team under practice situations.
The UC women's team, led by head coach Laurie Pirtle, will follow with an open practice, from 12 noon-2 p.m. Both teams will sign autographs at Cattitude on the Commons, beginning at 2:30 p.m., leading into the 4 p.m. Homecoming football game vs. Connecticut in Nippert Stadium.
The Connecticut contest will be UC's first home BIG EAST football competition.