Photo by Andrea Zucker / Memphis Tourism. In the same way that Black Friday officially begins the Christmas season, so Memphis Madness officially kicks off the most wonderful time of the year in Memphis: basketball season. Assignment #270 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to catch the madness. The University of Memphis' annual basketball kick off isn't a game - it's a heady, loud blue and gray streaked night of full-tilt hoops insanity. And for 2019, with hometown hero and NBA star Penny Hardaway returning to the helm of the men's team, it was even more dramatic.

Coach Hardaway all over the airwaves this morning talking Tiger basketball and Memphis Madness! pic.twitter.com/V0hp2IUz8z

— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) September 26, 2018

Memphis Madness 2019 is on Thursday, October 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for plaza and club seats or $5 for terrace and all the seats are reserved this year. Students can go for free. Get your tickets here. Go there: Memphis Madness Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 at 7 p.m. FedExForum 191 Beale Street Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 205-2525 Originally posted 2012. Updated 2019.