Oct. 2, 2009

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's and women's basketball teams will officially tip off the 2009-10 season with "Michigan Madness" on Friday, Oct. 16, at Crisler Arena. Doors A and E will open at 8 p.m. The event is FREE and open to the public.

Beginning at 7 p.m., U-M women's head coach Kevin Borseth will hold "Borseth's BBQ" on the east lawn for U-M students only. This event will feature hamburgers and hot dogs courtesy of Famous Dave's.

Festivities will begin at 8:15 p.m. with the John Beilein Greek Shootout. Teams of three players made up of members of Michigan's fraternities and sororities will compete in a bracket-style tournament where one member of each team shoots a lay-up, a free throw and a three-pointer. The first team to have all three members complete the cycle will advance to the next round.

Following the Shootout, Wolverine players from both the men's and women's programs will be introduced and take the floor at 9 p.m., followed by introductions of Beilein and Borseth at 9:15 p.m. After a welcome from the Wolverine coaches, the Maize and Blue will compete in a skills competition at 9:20 p.m. Six teams of three -- including one men's player, one women's player and one Maize Rage student -- will take the floor to compete in various basketball drills.

A three-point competition is scheduled for 9:40 p.m., featuring one men's player and one women's player teaming up to see which tandem can get the furthest in a game of "Around the World". The duos will have 60 seconds to get as far as they can, with the top two teams moving on to a final round.

Closing out the skills challenges will be the dunk contest at 10 p.m., with DeShawn Sims, Manny Harris, Zack Novak and Darius Morris scheduled to compete. Each player will be have one dunk attempt, with the top two scores moving on to the final round for a head-to-head challenge. Four selected women's basketball players will serve as judges for the event.

The evening will end with a pair of eight-minute scrimmages -- two, four-minute halves -- for the men's and women's program. The women's team will take the floor at 10:20 p.m., followed by a men's team scrimmage at 10:30 p.m.

Michigan basketball fans who attend Michigan Madness will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in the student section located in the lower level blue for the Coppin State game at a discounted price of $10 per ticket (regular price is $15). For all other Wolverine basketball ticket information, please contact the U-M Ticket Department at (734) 764-0247 or on the web at mgoblue.com/tickets.

Michigan Madness Schedule