DePaul University Athletics
Busy Weekend Kicks of 2011-12 Basketball Season
10/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Oct. 12, 2011
CHICAGO - While the doors will be locked on some arenas around the country this weekend, DePaul's McGrath-Phillips Arena will be open for fans to catch the men's and women's basketball teams as they kick off their 2011-12 seasons. All of the action starts Friday night at 9 p.m. for Blue Madness followed by the annual Open Practice on Saturday afternoon.
Blue Madness starts at 9 p.m. on Friday night but the day gets started at 3 p.m. with a women's soccer match against Villanova followed by DePaul volleyball against Notre Dame at 7 p.m. DePaul students that attend all three events will be entered into a contest with the winner getting a trip for two with the DePaul spirit team to the BIG EAST Championships. The trip includes airfare, accommodations and tickets.
In addition to the grand prize of the trip to the BIG EAST Championship, other prizes for students include an iPad, iPod Touch, Beats by Dre headphones, a mountain bike, a pair of tickets to the B96 Jingle Bash and a Nike prize pack.
Blue Madness features dunk contests, three-point shootouts and scrimmages for both the men's and women's teams. Keisha Hampton and Deanna Ortiz will compete in the three-point shootouts while Worrel Clahar, Jamee Crockett and Cleveland Melvin will entertain the crowd in the dunk contest.
Chicago's B96 (96.3 FM) will be at DePaul for Blue Madness starting at 5 p.m. with Showbiz Shelly hosting a remote and the B96 promo team out and about around the Lincoln Park campus. On-air personalities Stylz and J-Niice hit the floor with the men's and women's basketball teams to ring in the new seasons for Blue Madness at 9 p.m. following the DePaul-Notre Dame volleyball match.
Following the Madness on Friday night, the Open Practice takes place on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The men's team will practice from 1-2 p.m. on center court followed by the women's team from 2-3 p.m. Each team will be available to meet fans and sign autographs while the other is practicing with the women's team available for meet and great at 1 p.m. and the men's team available starting at 2:15 p.m.
Season tickets, group packages and mini-plans are on sale now for the 2011-2012 basketball seasons and single-game tickets go on sale on Oct. 19. For more information, contact the DePaul ticket office at (773) 325-SLAM.
Both teams kick off their seasons on Friday, Nov. 11 with a tripleheader at McGrath-Phillips Arena. The women's team hosts the Maggie Dixon Classic and play Saint Mary's at 6 p.m. followed by the men's team against UT-Pan American at 8 p.m. The first game of the Maggie Dixon Classic is at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 between Samford and Montana.
