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The Morning Mix - Midnight Madness Edition

Midnight Madness events across the country took place this weekend, signaling the start to the 2012-13 college basketball season. With so much taking place on Friday night, we’re providing you with a video-heavy Morning Mix of all the Midnight Madness action.

For the regular Monday edition of The Morning Mix, you can click here

- If there is something specific you are looking for, but can’t find it here, there’s a good chance that Jeff Eisenberg documented it over at Yahoo Sports’ The Dagger. Jeff put together a great running list of all the top Midnight Madness moments from this weekend

- A great mixtape of highlights from Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness, which is gaining a strong reputation as the premiere season tip-off event in all of college basketball, as evidence by their $300K budget. Plus, Matthew Mitchell, the head coach of Kentucky’s women’s team, has gained a nice cult following thanks in large part to his charisma and MC Hammer routine at Midnight Madness. While John Calipari won’t go to the same creative lengths as Tom Izzo, he utilizes the season-opening event better than any coach in the country. Plus, he turned the court at Rupp Arena into a projection screen TV:



- Speaking of Tom Izzo, Michigan State’s Spartan Madness is always one of the more entertaining Midnight Madness events, and coach Izzo and his family always dress up for the show. This year the Izzo’s donned superhero outfits, and Tom made his entrance on a zip line in a full Iron Man suit:



- Baylor’s Moonlight Madness has become home to some of the best preseason dunk contests in the country. Duece Bello is one of the best dunkers in the country, Pierre Jackson has a 50-inch vertical, and even Brittney Griner can throw down. Lots of dunks were had on Friday night

- The grandfather of North Carolina State sharpshooter Scott Wood collapsed at Primetime with the Pack and was taken to a nearby hospital. He was released on Saturday afternoon

- At Wagner College, Josh Thompson dunked over both his parents at Madness Before Midnight. In 2011, Thompson dunked over his mother, and decided to bring his dad along for the fun this time around

- A student hit a half court shot and won a car at San Diego State’s Madness on the Mesa

- College Basketball Talk released our list of Top Dunkers to watch in 2012-13, and Memphis’ D.J. Stephens was one of the few elite dunkers left off the list. This was a huge mistake. What you are about to watch may be the most impressive dunk I have ever seen:



- For Texas Tech, their Midnight Madness event signified the end of the madness that was Billy Gilispie’s tenure as head coach

- A great mixtape from Minnesota’s Midnight Madness event, featuring a bevy of highlight reel dunks from Rodney Williams

- The Cleveland State Vikings took a militaristic approach to their Midnight Madness, dressing up in full combat camouflage and entering the arena in an army surplus truck

- Two years ago, Keion Bell dunked over seven people at Pepperdine’s Midnight Madness. Bell transferred to Missouri last year and had to sit out last season. He made his Tigers debut at Midnight Madness, and promptly dunked over six people

- Purdue’s D.J. Byrd punk’d the fans at the Boilermaker’s Midnight Madness. The senior guard dressed up as Dirk Hunter, a country music performer, only to remove his costume mid-performer

- The Carrier Dome held a rather interesting Syracuse Midnight Madness. The event was hosted by Scoop Jardine and his girlfriend Jasmine Jordan, the daughter of Michael Jordan. If that wasn’t enough, a man was stabbed during the event in the concourse area. Oh, and the men’s and women’s basketball team broke out some “Gangham Style” at the end of their rather-entertaining dance medley

- Speaking of “Gangham Style”, the senior class at Kansas did a spot on rendition of the viral video mega-hit. Jeff Withey, Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford and Kevin Young shut it down:



- Pittsburgh held their Midnight Madness event outside, a new wrinkle to Midnight Madness that is likely to be replicated at various campuses across the country. Coach Jamie Dixon made his entrance as Jackie Moon, Will Ferrell’s character from the comedy “Semi-Pro”. This is not likely to be replicated by many coaches across the country

- At Georgetown University, Jack the Bulldog made his return from an ACL injury the 9-year old bulldog sustained on Selection Sunday back in March. He was joined on Friday night by Jack Junior (J.J.) who was making his Georgetown debut. J.J. is only ten months old and will take over game day duties in a few years

- An awesome mash-up of highlights from the Midnight Madness festivities at UNC-Wilmington. While the Seahawks didn’t have the saem theatrics as Kentucky, the event was still entertaining, and provided a great atmosphere for the season tip-off

- St. John’s JaKarr Simpson threw down a a nice one-handed dunk at Red Storm Tip-Off. But the dunk was set-up by a nice soccer-flick from Orlando Sanchez

- Who doesn’t love when fat people dance? North Carolina State has the right idea

Troy Machir is the managing editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @TroyMachir.