The starting of every season whether it be football, baseball, hockey or any other sport is a cause for celebration for any die hard fan. The excitement one gets from watching and analyzing games play by play is contagious to all those present. In all honesty, sport events, whether being there in-person or watching on the T.V., tend to have the most charismatic energy that draws onlookers in.

Midnight Madness is an annual event celebrating the upcoming college basketball season. While the name might change from school to school, the concept is generally the same. The teams open its first official practice to the public, usually including a pep rally and crowd engaging activities. Funnily enough, the term “Midnight Madness” and the event itself originated from teams holding public practices at midnight on the earliest day allowed to them by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA. In 2013, however, a rule passed that allowed some flexibility on when practices could start. Most teams stay with tradition and stick with the Friday night closest to Oct. 15 while others may vary. Eleven of the basketball programs upheld this tradition, kicking off their season on Friday, Oct. 14.

How this opening ceremony plays out is different between campuses. Arizona, for example, drew a full stadium, all waiting to see the Wildcats’ team. One surprising and funny instance from the event was when freshman guard Rawle Alkins threw down a dunk over his head coach, Sean Miller’s, head. Alkins was able to show off his skills all while keeping the tone of the evening pleasant and amusing. Contrasting almost completely to this was North Carolina whose event certainly lived up to the name. This jampacked event consisted of two choreographed dance numbers, a dance off between players Theo Pinson and Joel Berry II, a twerking session, an impersonation of Janet Jackson by Kennedy Meeks and of course a basketball portion which was made up of a three-point contest and a skills competition. One money-filled event, in more ways than one, occurred in Kansas’ Late Night in the Phog. For the second year in a row, the Jayhawks director of basketball operations Brennan Bechard scored a half-court shot on his first and only try. This shot earned a lucky student named Jordan Stiers $10,000. Every campuses have their own quirky way of showing their spirit and pride, and each are special to the teammates, coaches and fans.

As of now, teams are split between beginning their own season and letting go of the festivities to begin their long days of practices. It doesn’t matter what one calls Midnight Madness, one thing remains the same throughout the country: the start of college basketball is here.