TicketsFor the first time in 15 years, the University of Cincinnati celebrated the start of basketball season with "Bearcats Madness" Presented by Skyline Chili.
The event gave Bearcats' fans their first look at the 2019-20 UC men's and women's basketball teams.
It paid homage to previous UC basketball madness events with the Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot and also featured a three-point shooting contest, scrimmages by both teams and a pre-event autograph session with former UC men's basketball players sponsored by Formica.
// WHAT WAS SAID
Michelle Clark-Heard, UC women's basketball coach
"It's so awesome to see everybody out. We're really excited about this season. Our girls have been working really hard.
"We just want to have the opportunity today to say thanks for coming out and give you all a little taste of what we've been doing. We have a lot of new faces. I'm really proud of our returners. Proud of what we're trying to do. And I'm really looking forward to this season.
"Remember this date: Nov. 5. We need you in here when we play Utah. Utah is in one of the best conferences in the country and we need your support. Come out and support these great young ladies. Enjoy the night. Go Bearcats!"
John Brannen, UC men's basketball coach
"When they came to me and said do you want to bring Midnight Madness back, I thought about 15-20 years ago when I was growing up here in the Greater Cincinnati area, the Shoe was rockin.' Dick Vitale at half-court. Guys jumping over cars during the dunk competition or something like that. Guys making half-court shots for tuition. This is the environment we wanted to bring back for our great fans at the University of Cincinnati.
"My first week on the job, I'm on the road recruiting and one of our rival head coaches comes up to me and says, 'Coach, you got the best home-court advantage in the league.
"What you are going to see this season is a bunch of men that have given everything they possible can to each other, to our program and to this university. And tonight we get to celebrate that a little bit with some dunking, a lot of three-point shooting and a little bit of scrimmaging.
"This is what I need from you guys. This is the commitment level I need this season. This team will come together as the season continually progresses. You will see a brand of basketball and a commitment level that will be fun to watch. What I need you to do is not sit on your hands but stand up because we are Cincinnati Basketball."
// EVENT SPONSORS
UC Athletics salutes Skyline Chili, who returned as the title sponsor of "Bearcats Madness." Other sponsors included Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Kingsgate Logistics and the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association in connection with the university's Bicentennial celebration.
// UP NEXT
Both teams play one exhibition game prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. The women's team greets Charleston (W.Va.) on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena. The men's team plays host to Thomas More on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.
The season opener for the women is Tuesday, Nov. 5, against Utah at 7 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena. The men open the new campaign on the road, Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 8:30 p.m. at Ohio State on FS1.
The event gave Bearcats' fans their first look at the 2019-20 UC men's and women's basketball teams.
It paid homage to previous UC basketball madness events with the Fifth Third Bank $100K Half-Court Shot and also featured a three-point shooting contest, scrimmages by both teams and a pre-event autograph session with former UC men's basketball players sponsored by Formica.
// WHAT WAS SAID
Michelle Clark-Heard, UC women's basketball coach
"It's so awesome to see everybody out. We're really excited about this season. Our girls have been working really hard.
"We just want to have the opportunity today to say thanks for coming out and give you all a little taste of what we've been doing. We have a lot of new faces. I'm really proud of our returners. Proud of what we're trying to do. And I'm really looking forward to this season.
"Remember this date: Nov. 5. We need you in here when we play Utah. Utah is in one of the best conferences in the country and we need your support. Come out and support these great young ladies. Enjoy the night. Go Bearcats!"
John Brannen, UC men's basketball coach
"When they came to me and said do you want to bring Midnight Madness back, I thought about 15-20 years ago when I was growing up here in the Greater Cincinnati area, the Shoe was rockin.' Dick Vitale at half-court. Guys jumping over cars during the dunk competition or something like that. Guys making half-court shots for tuition. This is the environment we wanted to bring back for our great fans at the University of Cincinnati.
"My first week on the job, I'm on the road recruiting and one of our rival head coaches comes up to me and says, 'Coach, you got the best home-court advantage in the league.
"What you are going to see this season is a bunch of men that have given everything they possible can to each other, to our program and to this university. And tonight we get to celebrate that a little bit with some dunking, a lot of three-point shooting and a little bit of scrimmaging.
"This is what I need from you guys. This is the commitment level I need this season. This team will come together as the season continually progresses. You will see a brand of basketball and a commitment level that will be fun to watch. What I need you to do is not sit on your hands but stand up because we are Cincinnati Basketball."
// EVENT SPONSORS
UC Athletics salutes Skyline Chili, who returned as the title sponsor of "Bearcats Madness." Other sponsors included Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Kingsgate Logistics and the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association in connection with the university's Bicentennial celebration.
// UP NEXT
Both teams play one exhibition game prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. The women's team greets Charleston (W.Va.) on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena. The men's team plays host to Thomas More on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.
The season opener for the women is Tuesday, Nov. 5, against Utah at 7 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena. The men open the new campaign on the road, Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 8:30 p.m. at Ohio State on FS1.