Friday night’s annual “Blue and Orange Madness” event wrapped up the Pepperdine Spirit Cup competition and kicked off the official first practice for the upcoming Men’s and Women’s Basketball seasons.
Students staff and alumni gathered in the Firestone Fieldhouse parking lot’s “Madness Village which featured giveaways, a dunking booth, free In-N-Out Burger and Crumbs cupcakes.
Different groups participating in the weeklong Spirit Cup competition each managed a booth, selling treats like cupcakes and donuts in a bake-off competition for charity. Madness attendees assembled in the Village to watch the final event of the competition: the crowd-favorite Lip Sync.
At 8:30 p.m., the crowd made its way into Firestone Fieldhouse, which had been transformed via lights and music. Blue and Orange Madness, scheduled each fall on the first day that the NCAA permits formal basketball practices, celebrates the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The men’s team played a short intra-team scrimmage, as well as a dunking contest that saw sophomore Keion Bell smash his own record — set at last year’s event — by dunking a basket over the heads of five players. The men’s and women’s teams also participated in a three-point contest and a relay race. Both head coaches encouraged the crowd to attend home games in the Fieldhouse this season and support the teams.
In between basketball events and competitions, Pepperdine’s cheerleaders, dance and step teams, and the renowned breakdance crew Killafornia performed for the audience. Saxophone player junior Tyler Varnell performed the National Anthem as well.
Spirit Cup King and Queen and the winners of the competition were announced at the end of Blue and Orange Madness. Seniors Courtney Brady and Alexander Waters won the King and Queen crowns, and the Titanic”-themed group of Alpha Tao Omega Alpha Phi Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Gamma took home wins in both the Lip Sync win and the overall Spirit Cup title.