MIDNIGHT MADNESS

PARTY TIME
The real craziness begins in March, but in October, at the season's first college hoops practices, everyone celebrates. Clockwise from top left: Kentucky's Patrick Patterson gets up for a packed house; USC cheerleaders welcome O.J. Mayo; Michigan State coach Tom Izzo bares his breastplate; Patrick Ewing Jr. (center) follows footsteps at Georgetown; and seniors at Kansas wanna be a part of it—dancing to New York, New York.

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JAMES CRISP/AP (PATTERSON)

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DAN AVILA (USC CHEERLEADERS)

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AL GOLDIS/AP (IZZO)

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MITCHELL LAYTON (GEORGETOWN)

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THAD ALLENDER/LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD/AP (KANSAS)