It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Marquette—and we’re not talking about Christmas. Basketball season is upon us, folks, and we’ve never been more excited! Marquette Madness is more than just a pep rally for basketball; it’s also a quick training sesh for all you Fanatics! Just in case you need a few more reasons to get psyched for the season, we prepared a list for you.
1) Waiting in line. Seriously.
We completely understand. Waiting in line never sounds like fun. However, it’s a pretty important skill when it comes to Marquette Basketball games. Since all games are first-come, first-serve for seating, you need to get to the Bradley Center early to get lower-bowl seating. This usually means waiting in line for an hour or so, but it’s a good time to bond with your friends and other fans trying to get close to the action.
Madness is always more fun when you’re up close. People can get seated at 6:30 PM, but since the Al McGuire Center fills up fast and you don’t need to purchase Fanatics tickets to attend Madness, it may be in your best interest to line up early. People are permitted to line up starting at 4 PM, so plan it out!
2) Free T-Shirts and Posters!
We all love free things, especially shirts. Marquette games are great for free stuff, and Madness is no exception. We’re loving this year’s t-shirt design, and we’re also pumped for this season’s schedule poster!
3) Cheesy Videos
We hate to admit it, but we’re suckers for those cheesy videos they play in between halves at the games. They’re so silly, but extremely entertaining. We can expect a few of those at Madness, and we already love the ones that have been posted on YouTube. Check out one of this year’s!
4) Basketball stars of past and present
Naturally, the basketball players will be at Madness, and we can’t wait to be introduced to the team! We also will become familiar with the ladies of the women’s team, and there will be contests in which the two teams are pitted against each other. It’s always great to view a bit of friendly competition, and the contests are entertaining as well. So far, there is a dunk contest and a scrimmage planned, but we wouldn’t doubt that there are some surprises in store as well.
In past years, some surprises involved a karaoke contest between Buzz Williams and Junior Cadougan, who we all know loves to belt out a tune. Some bigger surprises in the past involved alumni basketball players (who made it to the NBA!) paying a visit. On Twitter last year, the topic #BringDWadeToMadness trended and managed to do just that– Dwayne Wade, who led us to the NCAA title in 2003, surprised us all and paid old Alma Mater a visit!
5) Unity with your fellow Fanatics
Whether you’re learning the chant for “Ring Out Ahoya” for the first time or brushing up on the chords for “Hail Alma Mater,” doing the chants and cheers for our team is always a high point of the basketball games. Madness is no exception—the team cheers will inevitably pump you up for the season! So get on your Marquette gear, warm up your cheering voice, and get ready to let the world know that WE ARE! *clap clap* MARQUETTE! *clap clap*