Big Blue Madness has always been more than a basketball showcase, it’s a celebration, a spectacle, and a rite of passage for Kentucky basketball. Every October, Rupp Arena transforms into a stage for theatrics, nostalgia, and pure Kentucky basketball magic. There is nothing like it.
Here are the five greatest entrances in Big Blue Madness history:
5. Enes Kanter Freedom (2010)
Though he never played a game in Kentucky blue, Enes Kanter made his mark. When the lights dimmed and The Undertaker’s theme hit, the crowd erupted. Kanter walked out on the stage wearing the signature hat, channeling WWE energy that still lives in BBN lore.
4. Matthew Mitchell (2013)
No one did it quite like Matthew Mitchell. The former women’s coach had a flair for fun, and his 2013 entrance, dressed as James Brown, dancing through a mashup of “Get up offa that thing” and Britney Spears, remains an all-time crowd favorite.
3. Rick Pitino (1994)
Leather jacket. Harley Davidson. Rick Pitino. Enough said. Pitino’s dramatic ride onto Rupp’s floor was equal parts defiant and iconic, setting a tone that perfectly matched his swaggering 90s Cats. If you don't want to watch the whole event, skip to around 23:50 to see Pitino ride out on to the floor.
2. John Wall (2009)
It wasn’t just an entrance, it was a moment. Wall’s swagger, his smile, and that unforgettable dance defined a new era of Kentucky basketball. “The John Wall Dance” became a national sensation and a cultural reset for BBN.
1. Trent Noah and Jordan Smith (2024)
No moment has ever hit Kentucky’s soul quite like this. When The Voice winner Jordan Smith rose from beneath the stage set on Rupp’s floor and began singing “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” the crowd lost it. As hometown hero Trent Noah hyped the crowd, the noise was deafening, chills-inducing, spine-tingling, Kentucky to its core.
Honorable Mentions
There are so many great moments in Midnight Madness/Big Blue Madness history, and we wanted to highlight just a few more here.
Mark Pope’s 2024 bus arrival holding the ’96 trophy with a lot of the 96 team, and the late Bill Keightly popping out of a 100-year birthday cake in 2002 are among a handful of unforgettable moments. No one does introductions like Kentucky. And no one ever will.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion