In recent years, the Arizona Wildcats basketball program has gone away from their Midnight Madness event in favor of a much more organized Red-Blue Game. While (most) fans enjoyed staying up into the wee hours of the night, the event was basically a "glorified pick-up game", as Sean Miller called it at Media Day earlier this week.
For the third straight year under Miller, the Red-Blue Game will be the primary event for fans to get a glimpse at their new team. While the event will still focus a dunk contest, shoot-off and scrimmage, this year's event means so much more.
Derrick Williams and Chase Budinger will both be in attendance to be enshrined into the Ring of Honor. In addition to Williams and Budinger, former Wildcats and current NBA stars such as Andre Iguodala, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye will be in attendance, among others.
While the return of these players to the McKale Center will be a great scene to behold, the future of UA basketball will also be in Tucson. Brandon Ashley, Grant Jerrett and Gabe York, the three members of Arizona's No. 1 ranked recruiting class for 2012, will be at the game.
Top-10 prospect Kaleb Tarczewski, who is considering the Wildcats, will also be on his official visit. Showing Tarczewski a great time is imperative to landing the seven-foot center and the fans can make that happen.
The Red-Blue game will be played on October 22 at 2 p.m. Sean Miller has asked fans to sellout the McKale Center. As of Friday, October 14, UA has sold nearly 10,000 tickets. This does not include any students, due to the fact they get into the event for free. With a week left to purchase tickets, as well as the walkup crowd and students, it is safe to say we are on pace to meet Miller's goal.
Do you have your tickets yet?