1. Rupp Arena Floor
Inside Rupp Arena’s main entrance is the arena’s original floor. When you walk into the arena you’ll be walking on the same floor as many great Kentucky players of the past, so take a second to take it all in.
2. Spelling out K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y
One of the best parts of any Kentucky basketball game is when the cheer team spells out K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y at center court. The atmosphere is incredible when everyone in attendance chants each letter and best of all the Y is made by a famous UK alumni, so join in on the chant to get the most out of your trip to Lexington.
3. UK Flag and Pyramid
The crowd goes crazy when the UK Flag is raised, and the cheerleaders go into their pyramid formation, so don’t miss it. The unveiling of the UK Flag is a great part of any Kentucky basketball game, and a must see for anyone visiting Rupp Arena.
4. Banners
Kentucky is the most decorated program in college basketball, so you better believe that you’ll see a slew of banners hanging from the rafters of Rupp Arena. The banners honor all of the school’s championship-winning and Final Four teams as well as many of UK’s best players and coaches, so make sure to check them out.
5. Big Blue Madness
If you’re in the Lexington area right before the season starts, make sure to be in attendance for Big Blue Madness. The free Midnight Madness event kicks off the Kentucky basketball season and fans camp out for days to get their first look at the team, so join in on the fun.
6. Cheer Squad
Kentucky has one of the best cheer squads in the nation and have won an incredible 19 UCA National Cheerleading Championships. These men and women do an outstanding job of pumping up the crowds at Rupp Arena, so come prepared to get loud when attending a Wildcats basketball game.
7. Senior Day
While just about every school has a senior day celebration, few are as famous as the one at Kentucky. At Kentucky, every seniors run through a picture of themselves before the game giving an extra special feeling to the occasion. Make sure to attend senior day, so you can see your favorite graduating players play their last home game for the Wildcats.
8. eRUPPtion Zone
The student section at Kentucky is known as the eRUPPtion Zone and is one of the loudest students sections in the country. You can’t miss the eRUPPtion Zone when attending a UK game as they help provide one of the best in-game atmospheres you’ll find anywhere in college basketball.
9. Kentucky-Louisville Rivalry
College basketball is king in Kentucky, so if shouldn’t surprise you that there is a great deal of animosity between the two largest programs in the state. The Kentucky-Louisville rivalry is one of the best in college basketball and was even ranked the third best rivalry in college basketball by college basketball analyst Dick Vitale. Kentucky and Louisville are always among the best teams in the country, so you’ll be in for a treat when attending a Kentucky-Louisville game.
10. The Wildcat and Scratch
The Wildcat and Scratch are the two costumed mascots at the UK.These two love to entertain and pump up the crowd at Wildcat games. The Wildcat dates back all the way to 1976 and Scratch provides a youthful and kid-friendly persona who is great for fans of all ages.
