ARLINGTON – The unofficial start to the UT Arlington men's and women's basketball seasons is just one month away as Mav Madness is set to entertain students and fans alike inside the College Park Center on Thursday, Oct. 20.
 
UTA's version of the traditional 'Midnight Madness' returns for the first time in several years and will begin at approximately 8 p.m. immediately following the volleyball team's match against Abilene Christian which starts at 6 p.m.
 
The primetime, fast-paced event is free for all to attend and will be the first opportunity for the general public and University community to see and meet the 2022-23 men's and women's basketball teams.
 
Among the festivities fans can expect as part of Mav Madness include the following:

• Skills Competitions
• Team Introductions With Pyro
• Performance By The World Famous Simon Sez
• Free Tacos, Sliders & Pizza
• Free Soft Drinks Courtesy Of Pepsi
• 500 Complimentary Mav Madness T-Shirts
• Chances To Win:
  • 50-Inch TVs
  • Beats by Dre Headphones
  • RTIC Coolers
  • Road Travel With The Teams
  • And Much More!

More information about Mav Madness will be released next month, but for now fans are encouraged to save the date and plan on attending the premier preseason showcase after taking in the volleyball match versus ACU.
 
Midnight Madness started in 1971 by then-Maryland coach Lefty Driesell, who began the tradition with a team workout at 12:03 AM on Friday, Oct. 15 – which was then the first official day teams could commence practice for the season (it has since moved much earlier in the fall/late summer). Since then, the midnight start has morphed into a pep rally earlier in the evening rather than an actual practice, including an emcee, music, dancing, competitions and giveaways for fans in attendance.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@UTAMavsMBB; @UTAMavsWBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsMBB; @UTAMavsWBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsMBB; /UTAMavsWBB).