The Colonel men’s and women’s basketball teams will kick off their season with the first annual Hoops Madness at Midnight tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. The festivities will include a three-on-three basketball tournament for Nicholls students, with no entry fee, but the tournament will be limited to 20 teams. Cash prizes will be given to the winners of the tournament.

The evening will also be highlighted by free food, soft drinks and fun entertainment throughout the evening. The Student Programming Association will provide a live disc jockey at the event, while prizes will be given away to students.

“A couple of my friends are going to cook some food for about 250 people, and I am hoping that we get 250-300 people here,” Ricky Broussard, the men’s head basketball coach said.

The first official practice for the men’s and women’s basketball teams will begin at 12:01 a.m., which will feature mixed drills involving both men and women players. The men’s and women’s teams will also compete against each other in a three-point shooting contest, team scrimmages and a slam dunk contest.

“I think the players are excited, because it has been several years since we have had this event,” Broussard said. “I want them to feel special about this event.

According to Broussard, the event is the product of the works of both the men’s and women’s staffs, along with that of Gary Gallup, organizer of the event.

“People recognize this midnight madness event as the opening of the basketball season,” Broussard said. “It’s not just our team, but it is the University’s team and the student’s team, and for them (the students) to take an active part, they have a chance to participate with the basketball team.