Saturday, September 26, 2015

UK MBB Blue-White Game Ticket INFO



Tickets for the Kentucky men's basketball Blue-White Game go on sale Tuesday at 9 a.m. The annual Blue-White scrimmage is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in Rupp Arena. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.

Tickets will be available online through Ticketmaster.com<http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/16004F387E3F0FFA> or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000. Fans can also obtain tickets via the Rupp Arena Box Office (859.233.3535) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or by visiting statewide Ticketmaster outlets. For outlet locations, please visit Ticketmaster.com<http://www.ticketmaster.com/>.

The cost of the tickets will be $10 (lower level) and $5 (upper level). All public seating is reserved.

UK students may claim up to two free eRUPPtion Zone tickets for the Blue-White Scrimmage, while supplies last. Student tickets must be claimed in person at the Joe Craft Center ticket office with a valid student ID.

The Cats will tip off the 2015-16 season on Oct. 16 with Big Blue Madness in Rupp Arena.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Big Blue Madness Ticket/Campout Info



 Tickets for the 2015 Big Blue Madness in Rupp Arena will be available on Friday, Oct. 2, at 10 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Euclid Avenue and online at Ticketmaster.com. Big Blue Madness, the first open practice opportunity for UK’s 2015-16 men’s and women’s basketball teams, is Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are free again this year for the annual spectacle in Rupp Arena, which will feature introductions of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, practice drills, videos, and more. In a change from previous seasons, the ticket distribution will take place on Friday night to allow fans to attend the home football game vs. Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 3. The ticket distribution will take place on Friday, Oct. 2 at 10 p.m., following the 7 p.m. home UK volleyball match vs. Mississippi State.

Tickets for the 2015 Big Blue Madness will be available at 10 p.m. both at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Euclid Avenue and online at Ticketmaster.com. All patrons require a ticket to Big Blue Madness, regardless of age. There will be a limit of four tickets per person at Memorial Coliseum. Online orders will have a minimal service fee attached, and there will be a limit of four tickets per household. All duplicate orders will automatically be canceled.

A limited number of control cards will be issued to those camped out earlier on Friday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. Fans will receive a maximum of four tickets per control card Friday night. Fans with control cards are encouraged to start lining up for Friday night’s ticket distribution by 8:30 p.m. All fans must be present to obtain their control cards and only one control card per person will be accepted at distribution.

Campout


At the request of campus public safety officials, fans wishing to line up ahead of time at Memorial Coliseum for ticket distribution are asked to do so no earlier than 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. At that time, campers are encouraged to be courteous to their fellow Wildcat fans and use caution when crossing Avenue of Champions over onto the Memorial Coliseum block to occupy a spot in line. Public safety officials will be on site to aid and assist in a safe move-in. Campers displaying unsafe/disorderly conduct risk being removed from the line.

With the surrounding campus undergoing construction, space will be limited for fans wishing to line up ahead of time, and fans are encouraged to use Ticketmaster.com to obtain tickets. Once available space for fans has reached capacity, remaining fans will be asked to acquire tickets online at Ticketmaster.com. As in past years, UK Athletics will inform fans when available space has reached capacity and they are unlikely to receive control cards for the in-person ticket distribution.   

The athletic department will provide portable restroom facilities, but the use of permanent, wooden-type structures, portable generators, and propane tanks or other open flames used in cooking is prohibited due to safety concerns. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are not permitted. Additionally, selling sports tickets in excess of face value is illegal in Kentucky.

Parking and Transportation


Fans camping out for the Big Blue Madness ticket distribution may utilize the Wildcat Plaza area located directly across Avenue of Champions from Memorial Coliseum for a maximum of five minutes to drop off campers or unload their vehicles. Campers may also pay to use the metered spaces directly north of the Joe Craft Center for short-term unloading needs.

Campus safety officials request that campers not block bike lanes and/or sidewalks with their vehicles at any time. Vehicles left unattended or creating a traffic hazard will be cited and/or towed.

After unloading, campers must relocate their vehicles to off-campus locations.  Public parking options near campus include the Transit Center Garage and the Lexington Center Corporation, both of which have entrances accessible via High Street.  Both parking lots are within walking distance of Memorial Coliseum and provide daily parking for a small fee.  Please visit lextran.com/routes for information regarding Lextran bus routes to campus.       

Beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, the gates of the South Limestone Garage (PS #5, located next to Kennedy’s Wildcat Den) will be open and the structure will be available for free parking. The garage will remain open until 1 a.m. on Saturday.

Big Blue Madness broadcast info will be released at a later date.


Tuesday, September 22, 2015

John Calipari's Women's Clinic Set For Oct. 25



The annual and always popular John Calipari Women’s Clinic has been set for Oct. 25 from 3-6 p.m. at the Joe Craft Center on the University of Kentucky campus.

The clinic, now in its seventh season, is designed for women with all levels of basketball knowledge and experience and offers an exclusive inside look at the University of Kentucky men’s basketball program. The cost is $100. Fans can register atUKathletics.com/camps.

Check-in for the Women’s Clinic will be from 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Lexington Avenue entrance of the Joe Craft Center (UK ticket office side). Throughout the designated check-in time, attendees can enjoy refreshments and a self-guided tour of the Joe Craft Center. Men’s basketball staff members will be stationed throughout the facility for demonstrations and questions.

Following check-in, the women’s clinic will include scheduled presentations by staff and players on the inner workings of the program, as well as a Q & A with Calipari, UK coaches and the 2015-16 Wildcats.

Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable attire (athletic shoes) and participate in activities and presentations at their own risk.

Parking will be available in the E lot located on the north side of the Joe Craft Center. Attendees must park in a legal parking spot in that E lot only (parking in R lots is not permitted).

The event will feature a camp store with Kentucky basketball items available for purchase. Please note that the camp store can only accept cash or checks as a form of payment

This clinic is open to women only and recruitable age participants (currently in the 7th-12th grades, junior college or prep school) are not permitted to register for or attend the clinic, per NCAA rules.

Those who wish to register for the 2015 John Calipari Women’s Clinic can do so online and are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible due to limited spots available. The 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Women’s Clinics were sold out.

Once you have completed the registration process, you will receive a confirmation email with itinerary. You will receive reminder emails with additional details of the event.


Monday, September 14, 2015

Skal and Murray Named To Sporting News All-American Teams



Despite the calendar displaying a mid-September day, the 2015-16 college basketball season is rapidly approaching. The Sporting News released its preseason All-America teams and two Kentucky freshmen were among the players honored on Monday. Skal Labissiere was named an early-season favorite for second team honors, while classmate Jamal Murray was tabbed to the third team.

Labissiere is a consensus five-star recruit from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is regarded as the No. 1 overall center in the class of 2015 by both Rivals and Scout. A 6-foot-11 freshman, Labissiere will be looked upon to play a big role for the Wildcats in the frontcourt in his rookie campaign.

Murray hails from Kitchener, Ontario and was originally a member of the 2016 class, but reclassified to join the Wildcats in June.  A consensus five-start recruit, his stock began to soar following a breakout performance at the Nike Hoop Summit where he scored 30 points against Team USA.

The honors for UK’s freshmen duo mark the first awards of the 2015-16 season for the Wildcats.

What Sporting News Said about Labissiere …

“It is difficult to predict precisely which of Kentucky’s freshmen will have what level of impact. Guard Jamal Murray seems the most ready to break out, but Labissiere’s production seems to be the most necessary. Whether he will be ready to provide it will depend on how quickly he is able to adapt to coach John Calipari’s demands and the next level of competition.”

What Sporting News Said about Murray …

“It was hard not to find some place on this team for Murray after his series of dizzying performances in international competition since April. First it was his 30-point performance against the U.S. in high schoolers in the Nike Hoop Summit. But it was his play for Canada at the Pan-American Games nearly earned him a spot on the nation’s Olympic qualifying team.”



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

UK Alumni Charity Game To Be Televised On ESPNU



 For the first time in the game’s history, the UK Alumni Charity Game will be telecast on national television. ESPNU will televise the game, which will be held Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in Rupp Arena.

The game will feature UK players either currently or formerly playing professionally against North Carolina players either currently or formerly playing professionally. The Big Blue Nation will have an opportunity to enjoy some of the top talent to don the Blue and White against other elite talent. Per NBA rules, the University of Kentucky cannot confirm individual players participating in the exhibition game.

Tom Hart will call the game alongside UK Athletics Hall of Famer and former UK men’s basketball star Tony Delk, who recently had his jersey retired in Rupp Arena, and former North Carolina forward Jason Capel. Kaylee Hartung will serve as the sideline reporter.

Tickets for the 2015 UK Men’s Basketball Alumni Charity Game are still available for the public, though availability is limited. All seats are reserved and priced at $50 and $100 (premium lower level), $25 (lower level), $10 (premium upper level), and $5 (upper level). Tickets can be purchased at the Rupp Arena box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster Outlet or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. There is an eight-ticket limit per person. All orders will have additional fees attached plus a $1 facility fee. All proceeds from the game will go to charity. 
                                              
You must be 16 or older to purchase tickets and children under the age of 2 get in for free with a paying adult (the child will not have a seat and must sit on the lap of the paying adult). 

Doors to Rupp Arena will open Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.


Thursday, September 3, 2015

The University of Kentucky Offers BBN Rewards For Students



University of Kentucky students now have access to BBN Rewards, a program and app that will allow them to earn a variety of rewards for attending UK Athletics events. BBN Rewards is available for download on Apple and Android devices now.

Students are the heartbeat of our crowd at all of our home events,” Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Licensing Nathan Schwake said. “This program will allow us to recognize our most loyal students and create a fun way for them show their UK pride.

Students will accumulate points by checking in when they arrive at UK Athletics events using the Events button on the app. As students accumulate points, awards will automatically unlock. The first award is entry in a drawing to win free textbooks for the spring semester. Awards will be made available in the coming days, of which include participation in halftime contests at select sports, Kentucky gear, and experience items. 

In order to redeem rewards, students must complete all fields on their profile using the app’s Account button. Students are also encouraged to enable notifications on the app to receive news about exclusive experiences, coupons and other important updates.

In addition to receiving rewards, students will be able to see how they stack up with their peers on the BBN Rewards leaderboard. The leaderboard will also be used in conjunction with men’s basketball student ticket lotteries.  While details are still being finalized, students within a certain ranking on the leaderboard will have priority access to purchase men’s basketball tickets. The app also features a fan cam feature, social media content, and information about UK teams.