The magic is officially back in Rupp Arena.
Mark Pope’s second Big Blue Madness as head coach was more than a showcase; it was a statement. It was a night of spine-chilling entrances, legendary surprise guests, and jaw-dropping performances that left Big Blue Nation buzzing with an energy that may even be a little more than last year when Rick Pitino made a surprise appearance. When the smoke cleared, two new kings were crowned: three-point champion Trent Noah and dunk contest champion Collin Chandler.
A roar for Harlan County
Had to bring out special guest Jordan Smith for the Mountain Mamba's Big Blue Madness introduction. pic.twitter.com/GQrj96oqxO
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 11, 2025
The night’s most emotional moment came before a single ball was dribbled. When it was time for Harlan County’s own Trent Noah to be introduced, the lights dimmed and Jordan Smith, winner of The Voice, stepped into the spotlight. The opening chords of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” filled the arena, and the crowd erupted in a deafening, unified roar. It was a perfect tribute, a moment of pure Kentucky pride, and arguably the loudest ovation of the entire night.
Kentucky loves them some Trent Noah.
Pope, Wall, and the people
Head coach Mark Pope made a grand entrance of his own, being lifted high above the stage. In a symbolic gesture, he pointed across the arena to a surprise guest who also rose into the spotlight: Kentucky legend John Wall.
But Pope’s best moment came when he connected directly with the fans. He had his staff bring a few lucky fans down from the upper deck to sit on the bench and “coach the team,” an awesome, inclusive gesture that showed this new era is about bridging the gap between the program and the people who love it most.
They also handed out sneakers, threw signed memorabilia into the crowd, and brought some more fans down to judge the dunk contest.
Noah simply can't miss
The hype around Trent Noah’s shooting has been building all summer, and tonight, he proved it was all real. The 3-point contest was a battle of snipers, with Noah and Andrija Jelavic both posting an incredible 25 points in the first round.
In the finals, Jelavic put up a strong 21, but it was no match for the kid from Harlan. Noah put on an absolute masterclass, hitting shot after shot and finishing with a score of 30 to take home the crown in spectacular fashion.
Chandler and Wall shut it down
The night wouldn't be the same without an electrifying dunk contest, and Collin Chandler delivered a performance for the ages. After Braydon Hawthorne’s ambitious attempt to dunk over Otega Oweh came up just short and Mo Dioubate put up two powerful dunks, the stage was set for Chandler.
He was flawless.
He earned a perfect 50 on his first dunk, but for his second, he brought the house down. In a move that sent Rupp Arena into a frenzy, Chandler brought out John Wall to assist. Wall tossed the ball, and Chandler soared through the air for a thunderous finish, earning another perfect 50 and the dunk contest title. See the video here.
The other big event for the men had the white team, led by a game-winning shot from freshman Jasper Johnson, won the five-minute scrimmage 14-12. The White team really killed it for both the women and the men.
It was a night of perfect scores, perfect moments, and a perfect reminder of what makes this place so special. Basketball is back in the Commonwealth, and it feels bigger and better than ever. It was perfect end as Mark Pope personally shook hands with each former player in attendance as they brought them out on the floor for Rupp to give them an ovation.
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