Video: Kentucky CBB Unveils Court with LED Video Floor for Big Blue Madness

The famed annual preseason Big Blue Madness celebration for the Kentucky men's and women's basketball teams will feature a unique twist this year.

Kentucky announced on Wednesday that Big Blue Madness will be the first college basketball event to be held on ASB GlassFloor, which is an LED video floor that allows for interactive elements. Wildcats men's basketball head coach Mark Pope reacted to the announcement on social media:

Big Blue Madness will tip off on Oct. 11 inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. The event provides fans with an introduction to Kentucky men's and women's basketball teams, both of which have first-year head coaches this season in Pope and Kenny Brooks, respectively.

"We look forward to putting on a show for Big Blue Nation at our first Big Blue Madness with the ASB GlassFloor as part of the spectacle," Brooks said in a release. "Big Blue Madness is famous throughout the college basketball world. Since we saw the ASB GlassFloor at the U19 World Cup last year we've been intrigued by the possibilities playing on this court. We're excited to add this exciting technology to what promises to be an entertaining night in Rupp Arena."

The ASB GlassFloor has previously been used during 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, the 2024 Basketball Champions League Final and the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup. The interactive applications on the court give fans fun new avenues to involve themselves in the event.

Pope, who is replacing longtime head coach John Calipari following his departure for Arkansas, will have an experienced roster for the 2024-25 campaign that features six fifth-year players, one senior, one junior, one sophomore and three freshmen. Calipari's squads were known for their youth with highly-touted freshmen leading the way, so Pope is bringing a new culture to Lexington.

The Kentucky men's basketball team went 23-10 last season and was upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The women's team went 12-20 and missed the tournament for the second straight year.