When Kenny Brooks first arrived at Kentucky, one of the main points he hit on was that he wanted Kentucky basketball to be one, singular brand. In the past, you had the Kentucky men’s basketball team, and then you had the women’s basketball team. They were two separate entities. However, in one night at Big Blue Madness, that was put to an end.

When Brooks made his first-ever Big Blue Madness entrance, he did his best Morgan Wallen impression as he walked through the tunnels of Rupp Arena before he arrived to the court. On his way to the court, however, Brooks was greeted by none other than Mark Pope.

In year’s past, Kentucky women’s basketball was the red-headed step child to the men’s program, but that was put to a an end on Friday. As Brooks made his way to the court, the Big Blue Nation gave him an ovation that rivaled an NCAA Tournament game in Rupp.

Now, heading into the 2024-25 season, the BBN (which is the craziest, roudiest, most passionate, and insane college basketball fanbase in the country) has two exciting programs to keep track of in this new era in Lexington.

There’s the Mark Pope era and the Kenny Brooks era, but really, it’s just a new era of Kentucky basketball in general. Big Blue Madness has offered some special and impactful moments over the years, and the unity between Brooks and Pope was another incredible moment to add to that list.

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