Fansided

25 NCAA basketball bucket list items every fan must experience before they die

By Mike Phillips

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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NCAA basketball bucket list
(Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Our college basketball bucket list is for die-hard fans of the sport who want to experience the best the sport has to offer in person.

The idea of the bucket list is a lot of fun, especially for sports fans. Many baseball fans have a desire to visit all 30 big league stadiums as part of their bucket list while NFL fans look to visit memorable venues like Soldier Field and Arrowhead Stadium.

College basketball is a bit different since visiting all 351 Division I arenas isn’t practical, although there are surely a few brave souls attempting to complete that exercise. A good bucket list for college basketball covers not only which arenas are absolute must-visits, but also covers some unique experiences die-hard fans would appreciate.

Whittling down all of the possible options down to just 25 is a hard task so certain activities didn’t make the cut. Spending a night in the Izzone and seeing Michigan State play at the Breslin Center is a worthy choice, but it just didn’t make the cut on a stacked crowd.

Diehards can also check out a pair of basketball museums, the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts as well as the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City. Historians could also appreciate a visit to see James Naismith’s original 13 rules for basketball in Lawrence, Kansas, and a visit to Fordham’s Rose Hill Gym, the oldest active facility in Division I.

25. Attend Midnight Madness

The best way to kick off the college basketball bucket list is with an event that defines the kickoff of the season, Midnight Madness. The term itself originates from the NCAA’s own rulebook, which. defines when a team can first officially begin practices for the upcoming season.

The idea of Midnight Madness was first expanded by Maryland head coach Lefty Driesell in 1971. Driesell invited the Terrapins’ fan base to join the team on a 1.5-mile jog at 12:03 a.m. on October 15, the first day Maryland was allowed to practice.

More than 3,000 people showed up to participate, creating a tradition that inspired plenty of imitators. The first modern edition of Midnight Madness came at Kentucky in 1982 when head coach Joe B. Hall made the Wildcats’ first official practice an event complete with entertainment acts.

The practice has become common at almost every major Division I school, which tries to put on a spectacular show to celebrate the return of college basketball. Michigan State and Kentucky tend to put on some crazy performances, including an infamous year where Tom Izzo rode onto the court on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The pure theater of seeing what these schools can do for Midnight Madness makes it a must-attend for any college hoops’ fans bucket list. Picking the right school to see it will also enhance the experience dramatically.