The University of Arkansas at Monticello has announced that the UAM Weevils and Blossoms are set to host Monticello Madness and Tuesday, October 18, at Steelman Field House with the doors opening at 6:30 pm.
The event is an opportunity to introduce the 2022-23 Weevil and Cotton Blossoms basketball teams while celebrating the coming season.
For the Weevils, it will mark the second season under head basketball coach Chad Tapp.
The Weevils completed last season with an overall record of 10-18 with a Great American Conference record of 6-16.
The Weevils finished the season losing seven straight contests.
Last season’s team was not only the first under Tapp at UAM, but the team itself was a completely different squad from the GAC Champion team from the previous season after the entire Weevil squad with the exception of one player followed the previous coaching staff to their new school.
The one remaining player left the team early in the season leaving fans to cheer on a team of unknown Weevil players, however the fans would get behind the team, forming relationships with the new students.
Wesley Booker was deemed as the Mayor of Monticello in one internet article as he fell right into live in Monticello with a new church home and with interaction with the people of Monticello.
A little more relaxed atmosphere during this years football season for the Weevils as the team can be found tailgating before home Weevils football games and along with assistant coaches Jeremy and Justin Wagner are helping raise money with the selling of “Fear the Weevils” t-shirts during tailgating as well as just inside the entrance of Convoy-Leslie Cotton Bowl Stadium.
For the Blossoms, the team has nowhere to go but up after the departure of former head coach Markel Cox.
Cox won one contest in his two-year tenure at UAM, with the team going winless last season and are currently on a 34 game losing streak.
UAM hired David MIdlick to lead the Blossoms this season along with assistant Marissa Webb during the offseason.
Midlick came to UAM with a lot of coaching experience having coached at the high school, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division I levels.
Many players left campus after the departure of Cox, but Midlick will have a few returning players from last season's team.
The event on Tuesday is designed as a chance to meet the current coaching staffs and players through introductions to start off Monticello Madness.
There will be contests held throughout the evening with hot shot contests for men and women with two players from each squad along with two fans, a three-point contest pitting a Blossoms vs a Weevil, and a dunk contest.
There will also be giveaways throughout the evening with prizes such as a Smart TV, A UAM Basketball, UAM Bookstore prizes, and more items as well.
The UAM Basketball seasons tip off on the road on Friday, November 11, with the Blossoms and Weevils participating in seperateevents in Missouri and Iowa.
