Big Blue Madness Will Be Televised on The SEC Network

 For fans unable to make it to Rupp Arena for Big Blue Madness, the annual tipoff to the Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball seasons can be seen live on the SEC Network. It will mark the first time the yearly spectacle will air live and in its entirety on a national network.

The two-hour show will also stream live via the WatchESPN app on computers, tables and smartphones. ESPN’s Dave O’Brien will be on hand to make the call alongside analysts Sean Farnham and Kara Lawson.

Big Blue Madness will feature introductions of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, practice drills, videos and more. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

Free tickets for Big Blue Madness, which were distributed last week in-person at Memorial Coliseum and online, sold out in just 25 minutes.

This will be the 11th time Madness has been held at Rupp Arena.

2015-16 Kentucky BBall Single Game Ticket Info

Tickets for Kentucky's first four home men's basketball games will go on sale Tuesday at 5 p.m. On Tuesday evening, tickets will only be available online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or at statewide Ticketmaster outlets.  Fans are encouraged to purchase on Tuesday evening to secure the best seat locations.

Tickets for Kentucky's two exhibition games vs. Ottawa (Nov. 2) and Kentucky State (Nov. 6), and the first two regular-season home games against Albany (Nov. 13) and NJIT (Nov. 14) will be available.

Any tickets remaining after Tuesday's sale will be available for purchase through the same Ticketmaster channels on Wednesday morning as well as through the UK Ticket Office by calling 800.928.2287. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Rupp Arena Box Office beginning Wednesday (859.233.3535) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Remaining tickets for sale will come from the unsold student ticket allotment.

Tickets for the Blue-White Scrimmage at Rupp Arena on Oct. 27 are still available. Lower-level tickets (singles only) are $10 and upper-level tickets are $5.

For a complete listing of on sale dates and single-game ticket prices, visit UKAthletics.com/tickets. The Cats will tip off the 2015-16 season Oct. 16 with Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena.

As always, UK Athletics encourages all fans to buy tickets to our athletics events through the UK Ticket Office, Ticketmaster outlets, TicketExchange  the Rupp Arena Box Office. Tickets bought from anywhere other than those four sources may not be valid, and buyers should beware.

Kentucky BBall Practice To Be On ESPNU This Sunday

Kentucky fans will have an opportunity to get another early look at this year’s men’s basketball team in action as UK’s practice on Sunday will be televised live on ESPNU from 7-9 p.m.

The Wildcats will go through various agility and shooting drills in addition to 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 scrimmaging.

Doris Burke, Jay Williams and Seth Greenberg will be on hand to call the action for ESPNU, along with Andy Katz, who will handle sideline reports.

It’s the second season in a row UK has had a practice televised live.

Coach Cal Coaches Clinic Info

The 2015 John Calipari Coaches’ Clinic has been set for Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Joe Craft Center. Last year’s clinic was sold out, so early registration is encouraged to reserve a spot.

The day-long event, intended for male and female coaches, gives a unique look into the coaching philosophies and strategies that Calipari uses in guiding the eight-time national championship basketball program at Kentucky. Included in this year’s clinic will be a chance to tour the Joe Craft Center and the training facilities used by the Wildcats, with staff members available to answer questions.

Attendees will be given exclusive access to watch Calipari and his staff conduct two practice sessions with the 2015-16 Wildcats. There will be opportunities to ask questions of Calipari and his staff after the practices.

The cost of the clinic is $100. Registration will close on Oct. 28, so please secure your spot for this year’s clinic early at ukathletics.com/camps<http://www.ukathletics.com/camps>.

Check-in for the 2015 Coaches’ Clinic will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the lobby of the Joe Craft Center.
Parking will be available only in the E lot located on the north side of the Joe Craft Center. Attendees must park in a legal parking spot in the E lots only (parking in R lots is not permitted).

Please note that participants of recruiting age (males or females currently in the 7th-12th grade, junior college or prep school) are not permitted to register for or attend the clinic.

Registration is available online and any clinic related questions can be called into the men’s basketball camp line at 859-257-9457 or 859-257-1916.

Dominique Hawkins To Miss Four Weeks With Broken Hand

 Kentucky men's basketball junior guard Dominique Hawkins will miss the next four weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand. Hawkins will undergo surgery Tuesday but is expected to return to practice in early November.

Hawkins suffered the injury in practice over the weekend.

"I really feel bad to have to report this because Dom was playing so well,” head coach John Calipari said. “He was so much more confident, so much more skilled. There was no doubt he was in the rotation, and now he’s just got to get back and stay in shape. We’re looking forward to getting him back in November.”

Hawkins has played in 56 games in his Kentucky career, including nine starts in his sophomore season. The Richmond, Ky., native has been one of UK’s best on-ball defenders in his first two seasons as a Wildcat, serving as a key stopper during Kentucky’s memorable 2014 Final Four run.

Among Hawkins’ highlights during his sophomore season was a career-high seven-point outing vs. Boston, a career-high six-assist day in a win over his hometown team, Eastern Kentucky, and a six-point, three-assist, two-steal night in a career-high 20 minutes at home vs. Missouri.

Kentucky's Finalized Basketball Schedule Looks Like This

The 2015-16 Kentucky men’s basketball schedule features 31 games on national telecasts after the remaining games were finalized Friday.

UK will be a prominent fixture among the college basketball television scene yet again with 26 total games set for national telecast by the ESPN family of networks and five more scheduled for CBS.

The Wildcats’ season opener will take place Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. against Albany. The game will air live on the SEC Network. UK will then take on NJIT in Rupp Arena on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. with the game airing on SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN app.

A midweek contest against Duke in the Champions Classic in Chicago is followed by the Wildcats returning home to take on Wright State on Nov. 20. Tip time is set for 8 p.m. UK will then meet Boston on Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. The games with Wright State and the Terriers will both air on the SEC Network.

Kentucky’s two exhibition contests are slated for Nov. 2 vs. Ottawa and Nov. 6 vs. Kentucky State. UK will matchup with Ottawa at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+ (WatchESPN). The Wildcats will take on Kentucky State at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.

UK’s home date with Tennessee on Thursday, Feb. 18 is now slated for an ESPN or ESPN2 designation and will tip at either 7 or 8 p.m. Confirmation of a network and time will be released at a later date.

The unofficial start to the 2015-16 season takes place at Big Blue Madness on Oct. 16. The men’s and women’s opening night will air on the SEC Network.

2014-15 Kentucky BBall All-Access Documentary To Be Available Oct. 13

To fully prepare for the 2015-16 Kentucky men’s basketball season, Big Blue Nation will have the opportunity to relive UK’s historic 2014-15 season with “Let’s Ball,” an all-access documentary that chronicles a college basketball journey for the ages. The documentary will be available for purchase Oct. 13 in stores and online.

“Let’s Ball: A Kentucky story of shared sacrifice, brotherhood and the collective chase of history,” which was shot, edited and produced by UK Sports Video, is a one-of-a-kind look into how 16 talented Kentucky basketball players came together to chase history and ultimately capture it in so many ways.

The 2014-15 Wildcats were rich in talent, depth and motivation – all ingredients for a memorable season – but the true story of last season’s historic Kentucky team was its willingness and even its insistence to sacrifice and share for the greater good of the team. Let’s Ball goes beyond the dizzying displays of dominance to capture what made the 2014-15 Wildcats so special and tell the real story of a team college basketball fans won’t soon forget.

The all-access documentary, which features more than two hours of content, takes viewers through the entire historic season with behind-the-scenes content never seen before and exclusive interviews with head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats.

Let’s Ball will be available in stores across the state and via digital platforms across the globe. Starting Oct. 13, three days before Kentucky officially opens the season at Big Blue Madness, fans will be able to purchase the documentary through Netflix, iTunes, Amazon.com, Walmart.com and the UK Team Shop. Fans will also be able to purchase a Blu-ray/DVD package of Let’s Ball at retail locations across Kentucky.

Now, here's a little preview of the documentary to get you excited....