The men's and women's basketball teams have already started practicing, so Friday night's festivities are more celebratory than anything else, but Michigan State Madness technically kicks off the hoops season for both teams.

Here are five things you need to know going into the event.

START TIME

For fans who plan to attend a high school football game on Friday night, the 9:30 p.m. start time for the on-court festivities allows the chance to do both. The first event of the night actually starts at 8:30 p.m., which is an autograph session on the Breslin Center concourse featuring players and coaches from the men's and women's basketball teams.

MSU Madness is on an earlier date than normal this year to accommodate the school's homecoming this weekend in an attempt to draw a larger audience. There could be some extra alumni showing up, so be prepared to get there earlier than normal.

WHAT WILL BE TOM IZZO'S ENTRANCE?

Last year, there was a larger-than-life bobblehead of men's coach Tom Izzo, which was preceded by him hiding with the cheerleaders before being introduced to the crowd. In 2016, he wore his Basketball Hall of Fame jacket. The year 2015 had a Mission Impossible theme. Other costumes have included being a member of KISS, a stuntman, Iron Man, a jet fighter, spaceman and race car driver, among many, many others.

Women's coach Suzy Merchant also gets in on the fun, traditionally coming out through the smoke with a dance routine with her players.

MEET THE FRESHMEN

While there isn't a marquee freshman on the men's team such as Miles Bridges or Jaren Jackson Jr., this is the first chance most fans will get to see the five incoming freshmen: Aaron Henry, Marcus Bingham Jr., Gabe Brown, Thomas Kithier and Foster Loyer.

For those who spent some of their Tuesday and Thursday nights this summer at the Moneyball Pro-Am in Dimondale, they saw all five play in most of the games, with Henry and Brown the breakout stars.

NON-HOOPS ACTIVITIES

There's a little something for everyone at MSU Madness. Along with the introductions of the teams and scrimmages, the evening will also include performances by the marching band and drumline, the cheerleaders, dance team and, of course, Sparty.

LOCAL FLAVOR

The women's team has two players with local ties - junior point guard Taryn McCutcheon (East Lansing) and freshman forward Kayla Belles (Ithaca). McCutcheon has started in 65 games over her first two seasons and was third in the Big Ten in assists (5.4/game) last year. Belles was a candidate for Miss Basketball last year until suffering an injury and missing her entire senior season, so this will be the first look at Belles on the court since the summer of 2017.

The only area player on the men's team is junior guard Conner George (Okemos), who saw action in 16 games last year, scoring six points.

Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.

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