LEXINGTON, Ky. — Big Blue Madness — the annual tipoff for the University of Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball — tickets will be available on Friday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. 

Big Blue Madness will take place Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Rupp Arena. It’s the 18th time the event will be at the arena. Big Blue Madness features introductions of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, contests, practice drills, videos and more.

Tickets, which are free this year, will be distributed online at Ticketmaster.com and the Ticketmaster app; since the Memorial Coliseum is still be renovated, there will be no in-person tickets up for grabs this year. UK said there will be a service fee on online ticket orders.

There is a two ticket limit per household. Any duplicate orders will be canceled.

Anyone who wants to attend Big Blue Madness will need a ticket.

The university said some tickets will be held for current students. Once student ticket information is confirmed, it will be posted online, here. However, UK said student tickets are limited. Students were advised to try to secure tickets through public distribution on Sept. 29.

Big Blue Madness will be televised on SEC Network.

UK men’s basketball has the year’s top recruiting class, according to the university. The team is welcoming seven first-year signees to the court. Five of those athletes — Aaron Bradshaw, Rob Dillingham, Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner — were top-25 prospects.

This year, UK women’s basketball celebrates 50 years of “varsity status.” Throughout the season, the team will celebrate the milestone with guest appearances, on-court recognitions, recap videos, feature story videos, trivia games, decade-themed giveaways and more.

The women’s team 12-player roster includes five Kentucky natives — three of whom were Miss Kentucky Basketball recipients.

Those interested in men’s basketball season tickets can get more information, here.

Those interested in women’s basketball season tickets can get more information, here.