There hasn’t been this much buzz around Michigan basketball since the Fab Five. The number of student ticket sales has increased from around 500 to over 2500. Some people might be late to the bandwagon, but it’s definitely piling up.
So what do you do with all of this momentum? Try to make the most out of it. For the first time in years, Michigan’s basketball teams will open their doors and welcome fans to join them on the first night of the college basketball season.
It’s hard to put expectations on a first time event like this. I assume that Beilein won’t stroll out in an Izzo-esque costume and that the crowd almost certainly won’t match Late Night in the Phog. But beyond that, I couldn’t tell you what I expect. At the end of the day, it should be a fun way to welcome in a new season.
The festivities kick off with the Borseth Bar-B-Q at 7 PM (just for students) and the doors to Crisler Arena open at 8 PM. The event (besides the BBQ) is free and open to the public. Here’s the full schedule:
| Friday, Oct. 16 – Crisler Arena | |
| Boresth’s BBQ (East Lawn) | 7 to 8 p.m. |
| Crisler Arena Doors Open | 8 p.m. |
| John Beilein Greek Three-Point Shootout | 8:15 p.m. |
| Team Introductions | 9 p.m. |
| Coach Introductions & Official Welcome | 9:15 p.m. |
| Skills Competition | 9:20 p.m. |
| Three-Point Competition | 9:40 p.m. |
| Dunk Contest | 10 p.m. |
| Women’s Basketball Scrimmage | 10:20 p.m. |
| Men’s Basketball Scrimmage | 10:30 p.m. |
| Teams, Crisler Sings “The Victors” | 10:40 p.m. |
For more info, check out MGoBlue.com. I’ll be at the event and will have thoughts and videos posted tonight and throughout the weekend.
