That’s right, college hoops are back for basketball fans. Massari Madness also returned this weekend for a second annual celebration of Pack Hoops.
This year’s Massari Madness was unique for the Pack, as there are many new faces and a new head coach in office at Massari. With five transfers, three freshmen, and four seniors, the roster of 16 is full for the men as they embark under new leadership from first-year head coach Zach Ruebesam. The women’s team is also back stronger than ever with many new faces; eight transfers, three freshmen, and four seniors fill the roster of 14 under seventh-year head coach Tommie Johnson.
Massari Madness, formerly known as Midnight Madness, is a pre-season event that offers a night for the community and student body to meet their college men’s and women’s basketball teams. This dates back to Oct 15, 1971, when the University of Maryland held a team run at 12:03 a.m. with 3,000 fans in attendance. Yes, this event actually did start at midnight, and though it now begins a little earlier, it is still a fun way for fans to meet and interact while watching the players compete in fun skills challenges. These challenges include a three-point shootout, a skills challenge, a dunk contest, and an intersquad between the men and women.
This year, Massari Madness began at 6 p.m. in the Massari Arena. As the stands began to fill, the first 100 fans received specialized Massari Madness t-shirts. After the introduction of teams, the itinerary for the night started off with the introduction of both teams, followed by a quick message from both head coaches, Tommie Johnson (Women’s) and Zach Ruebesam (Men). The events began shortly after, starting with the 3-point shootout and the skills challenge and finishing with the dunk contest. There was also a Halloween contest for the fans: whoever wore the best costume won a pair of Beats or JBL headphones and a t-shirt of their own.
Some Results from Massari Madness
- 3-point shootout champion—Seneya Martinez
- Skills challenge champion—Wynter Jones
- Slam dunk champion—Kyren Allen
Massari Madness is not just the start of a long-awaited basketball season; it is the spark that brings Pack hoops together. With new faces, returning talent, and a bunch of pack fans, no stage is ever too bright, as the show is just beginning. The pack is ready to cause havoc for this 2025-2026 season. As the new season is about to embark for the Thunderwolves, Massari Madness sets the tone of what is to come for CSU Pueblo Basketball.
Catch the Pack in action as the women host their first home game on November 14th at 1:00 p.m. against #20 UT-Tyler here at the Massari Arena. The men will follow as they tip off their first game against Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, on November 14th at 6:30 p.m. Their first home game will be on November 21st as they host Kansas Christian College at 7 p.m. here at the Massari Arena. Go Pack!
