KU Basketball: Date Set for ‘Late Night in the Phog’
The University of Kansas and its athletic department have set a date for Late Night in the Phog, the unofficial kickoff to a new college basketball season in Lawrence, Kansas. The event is set to take place on Friday, October 6th. More details on this year’s showcase will be announced at a later date.
Late Night in the Phog has taken place on KU’s homecourt, Allen Fieldhouse, since 1985. A tradition that began as “Late Night with Larry Brown”, an event that took place on a random Tuesday in October and began at 12:01 am. 6,000 fans, mostly students, attended the event. It was a fun way to showcase the team before the team’s first official practice took place. Shortly after its debut, the event has taken on a life of its own.
Since 1991, the event has filled Allen Fieldhouse to capacity. Fans have come to expect enjoyable musical performances by the pep band, routines by the spirit squad, dance teams and mascots, video highlights, coach and player introductions, scrimmages, and much more. In recent years, musical artists such as DJ Diesel (NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neil’s DJ persona) and Snoop Dogg have been featured artists at the event.
Late Night has become another staple in a tradition-filled basketball program like Kansas. Before the 2005-2006 season, the NCAA decided to change the season-opening scrimmage time from midnight to earlier in the evening to make it a more fan-friendly event. Kansas isn’t the only school to have an event like this, but they have one of the most popular showcases each year.
The KU women’s basketball team has also been featured more and more as the years have gone by during these Late Night events. Players from both the men’s and women’s teams have been featured in skits, dances, and scrimmages. It’s a fun-filled evening that highlights student-athletes and brings people together for a memorable evening.
This special evening in October has become a huge annual event for recruiting purposes, bringing in some high-profile players to see what the Kansas basketball program is all about in a one-night feature. Former players and coaches return to attend the event and dive head-first into the nostalgic aspect of the program. Seeing former coaches and players on the court giving speeches add an even more magical feeling throughout the evening as these former Jayhawk stars make their appearances.
Current and former players will be able to show off their personalities that may not be showcased in other ways throughout the season. Players shine on the court, but these events give the crowd a different look into the off-the-court personalities that can make them even more relatable to fans near and far. With social media, access to players can be easier than in the past, but seeing it up close and personal can mean a lot to portions of the fan base.
Late Night in the Phog is an ideal event to showcase the KU basketball programs and gives a sneak preview for the upcoming season. Especially this year, when the men’s program had so much turnover on the roster in the offseason, fans will be able to get a first-look glance at some of the new players. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. The countdown is on and it’s all going down on Friday, October 6th at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
