Midnight Madness 2025 Schedule for Top NCAA Men's Basketball Teams
The annual tradition of kickoff celebrations, known most affectionately as Midnight Madness, will kick off for several top NCAA men's basketball squads in the coming weeks, giving fans an opportunity to show their love and support while also getting their first looks at the 2025 teams.
Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Kentucky are among those who will participate in such events, even if the tradition of midnight practices is no longer in play.
Find out when those teams will take to the court with this preview.
Kansas' Late Night in the Phog
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Date: Friday, October 17
Time: 6:30 p.m. CST
Location: Allen Fieldhouse
The annual men's scrimmage as part of the Late Night in the Phog event represents an opportunity for the Jayhawks program to turn the corner after a disappointing 2024 campaign.
The decision to pack the team with transfers failed, leading to a disappointing 21-13 record and an early exit from the NCAA Tournament.
Potential relief comes in the form of the nation's No. 1 recruit, Darryn Peterson, who is ready to join the starting lineup and have an immediate impact. How he matches up with Flory Bidunga, the returning sophomore who withdrew from the portal and NBA Draft consideration, will be key to the team's success.
Bidunga shot just 69.8 percent from the floor in his freshman season and 53.3 percent from the free throw line and if he can improve upon those numbers, has breakout potential.
Duke's Countdown to Craziness
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Date: Friday, October 3
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium
The NBA Draft left the men's Blue Devils looking completely different than the team who last took to the court in the Final Four.
Gone are Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, their professional futures igniting excitement and hope for the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, respectively.
Carrying the hopes and dreams of Duke fans this season are Cayden and Cameron Boozer, the sons of former NBA star Carlos. Cameron is, arguably, the best player in college basketball while Cayden has shown an ability to rise to big moments.
The key to the team's success may prove to be Patrick Ngongba, a big man who showed flashes a season ago. If he can improve upon his play by shoring up his shot, both from the field and at the line, he could be poised for a breakout season.
Kentucky's Big Blue Madness
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Date: Saturday, October 11
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Rupp Arena
The Kentucky Wildcats get their lead scorer back in guard Otega Oweh and are coming off a 24-12 season under head coach Mark Pope.
That is excellent news for a team that, on paper, is one of uncertainty.
Forward Mouhamed Dioubate is a transfer from Alabama, guard Denzel Aberdeen came off the bench for Florida, and guard Jaland Lowe transferred from Pittsburgh, looking for an opportunity to win.
Oweh and forward Jayden Quaintance are the only returning players from last year's squad. It will be of the utmost importance that Quaintance remains healthy and Oweh continues to grow as a player, as will the team chemistry, particularly early in the season.
Pope has assembled intriguing pieces but how well they gel, and if they can stay on the court, will ultimately determine the path this year's team takes.
Michigan State's Midnight Madness
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Date: Friday, October 3
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Location: Breslin Center
Transfers Trey Fort from Samford and Kaleb Grant from Florida Atlantic join the returning Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, and Jaxon Kohler for the 2025 season.
Fort has bounced around Division I teams, but he shoots 38 percent from beyond the arc, giving the team a perimeter presence and opportunity to tally big points totals.
Carr should see his first starting opportunity and is a high-percentage shooter who is not the type to take unnecessary shots that put his team in a bind.
Fears' experience, coupled with the potential for increased scoring makes the team and intriguing watch entering the 2025 season, especially coming off of an Elite Eight appearance.
More so than other championship-potential teams, who can lean on one or two star players to come through in the clutch, Michigan State is a team that is defined by its ability to play as a team. Chemistry will be key, as will the veteran coaching of Tom Izzo, which still feels like an advantage worthy of several extra wins a season.
