Pitt basketball kicks off with Fan Fest

Instead of its traditional Midnight Madness, which usually features events such as three-point… Instead of its traditional Midnight Madness, which usually features events such as three-point shooting and slam-dunk contests, the Pitt basketball program is trying something new this weekend.

Combining the annual Blue-Gold scrimmages with the Midnight Madness activities, a Sony PlayStation 2 tournament and an autograph session featuring both the men’s and women’s basketball teams heads this year’s inaugural Fan Fest. It will take place at the Petersen Events Center tomorrow and will begin at 11:30 a.m. when doors open.

The autograph session is first and begins when doors open. An hour later, the Play Station 2 tournament gets under way. Four students will compete in a single-elimination tournament of E.A. Sport’s “NCAA March Madness 2005.” In addition to a library of E.A. Sports games, the contest winner will get the opportunity to be featured in a cameo with the Pitt team in the 2006 version of the game.

Following the tournament, the women’s team will tip off its Blue-Goal scrimmage at about 1 p.m. After a 20-minute game, the men will take the court for their own 40-minute scrimmage while the women judge a Halloween costume contest for children 12 and under.

Admission to the event is free.