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Kentucky Basketball had arguably their best Big Blue Madness in quite some time. Starting with Women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell’s dancing and ending with Immanuel Quickley’s dance moves of his own, the Wildcats got to work on the hardwood in front of thousands of fans and many basketball recruits.
To start, head coach John Calipari opened with a polarizing speech followed by the recognition of the 1948, 1949 & 1951 National Championship teams. Then, there was a six-round, three-point contest of which Immanuel Quickley bested Tyler Herro for the crown.
Next, PJ Washington topped high-flying Herro & Keldon Johnson in a wild dunk contest.
For the finale, fans got a glimpse of who will likely start to begin the season as Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Johnson, Nick Richards, PJ Washington & Quade Green suited up for the BLUE team and took down the WHITE team (reserves), 37-21.
In what was a night full of entertainment, here were some reactions via social media.
The full #BBM18 intro from above in the stands in @Rupp_Arena pic.twitter.com/0uxBdd6joi
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2018
Spoiler alert: the player who chose first took the middle tile and still managed to lose the game (and $1,000). https://t.co/PQAWhzcU9r
— John Morgan Francis (@MonJorgan) October 12, 2018
How do you rate @JonnyDavid 's #CARLTON ??@alfonso_ribeiro #BBM18 pic.twitter.com/mOeQL5epL5
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2018
Big Blue Madness 2018 is here... #BBN pic.twitter.com/hbRJdC3Gv0
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) October 12, 2018
"I knew in 2009, just as I know now, this is the greatest job in the country."
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 13, 2018
- @UKCoachCalipari #BBM18 pic.twitter.com/EH7BZM64xm
This speech makes me want to play basketball for @UKCoachCalipari even though I gave it up when I was 10
— Megan Calipari (@MeganteCalipari) October 13, 2018
Calipari: "This is the greatest job in the country ... but you take one look at me (pause for a photo from his first day on the job) ... and you people have beat me up." Says not the same effect on his wife Ellen. Earning big brownie points tonight.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) October 13, 2018
Immanuel Quickley is too smooth. Measures the money ball in the finals and drains it to win the 3 point shooting contest. pic.twitter.com/oR78ts9kww
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) October 13, 2018
Calipari tells the crowd that this team already has the stuff his great teams had. "The question now is how good do these guys want to be? Why settle for any ceiling as a team?"
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) October 13, 2018
PJ Washington off the backboard windmill complete with mean mug and flex. pic.twitter.com/FtqNWwmTsz
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) October 13, 2018
Cal salutes UK fans as greatest fan base and UK program as the greatest.. He lists former UK coaches. Fans cheer till he mentions Rick Pitino. Then they boo.
— Jerry Tipton (@JerryTipton) October 13, 2018
PJ Washington over Quade Green. pic.twitter.com/SUU8d18AYu
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) October 13, 2018
Jermarl Baker has a beautiful shot. The spin on his ball is quite impressive. He's going to be an X-Factor. #BBM18
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) October 13, 2018
Quickley tries consecutive threes from Tayshaun's Place, barely beyond half court, standing on the end of the K, where Prince hit the last of his famous five straight threes to start a game. IQ hit one of them tonight.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) October 13, 2018
I can’t think of a Cal team at Kentucky where you could’ve had a 3-Point Contest. (Maybe Brandon Knights team) HUGE flex by Cal letting everyone know that this team has some shooters #BBN
— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) October 13, 2018
The rest of college basketball watching that 3-pt. final: pic.twitter.com/lCD54Lzw8b
— Rick Pitno (@MinardiCeiling) October 13, 2018
Keldon Johnson over two pic.twitter.com/f0mnXhxsmQ
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) October 13, 2018
Tyler Herro is rocking a @rex_rexchapman jersey in the final round of the dunk contest here at #BigBlueMadness
— John Morgan Francis (@MonJorgan) October 13, 2018
Tyler Herro breaks out the Rex Chapman jersey for this dunk. pic.twitter.com/Y72AvMZXxt
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) October 13, 2018
23x national champion UK cheerleaders doing their thing prior to the men’s team intros... #BBN pic.twitter.com/WbOQzLtRQN
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) October 12, 2018
A “B-R-A-D BRAD BRAD BRAD” chant erupts.
— ESPN Radio Lexington (@ESPNRadioLex) October 13, 2018
Quade Green bounce pass alley oop. pic.twitter.com/qu58P2owkH
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) October 13, 2018
@raf_tyler pic.twitter.com/49upx2MrpN
— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) October 13, 2018
BLUE team tops WHITE team, 37-21 in a scrimmage without much defense. BLUE team of Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Johnson, Nick Richards, PJ Washington & Quade Green appear to be the current starting five.
— John Morgan Francis (@MonJorgan) October 13, 2018
I’m not saying we’re going to win the championship. But show me a better All-Around team in the nation #BBN
— Trevor Shearer (@TrevorShearer11) October 13, 2018
Calipari to the fans: "Thanks for coming. Hope you enjoyed it. Let's have a great year."
— Derek Terry (@DerekSTerry) October 13, 2018
Former Kentucky players pose with the team after Big Blue Madness. pic.twitter.com/gNRx94oQ6q
— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) October 13, 2018
Another BIG BLUE MADNESS in the books! Bring on the 2018-19 season! pic.twitter.com/IRrP54AdXe
— UK Alumni (@kentuckyalumni) October 13, 2018
And that's a wrap from #BBM18 pic.twitter.com/qE9ipPBV3D
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 13, 2018
Kentucky’s next task on the hardwood will come next Sunday in the Blue-White game.