It’s been seven months since the men’s basketball team almost got the upset against the Memphis Tigers in the first round of the NCAA tournament and the CSUN campus still has hoops fever.

With basketball season soon approaching everyone is itching to know how the men’s team is looking.

The perfect opportunity to see what the back to back Big West champs have in store for the upcoming season is Friday night at the Matadome where Matador Madness will be taking place.

CSUN hoops fans will get to see scrimmages of both the men’s and women’s basketball team. Some of the players are excited to show their skills to the CSUN faithful, like senior guard Mark Hill.

“I’m very excited,” Hill said. “(We’ve) been working hard in the weight room…bonding as a team and using this opportunity to show people were going to be good this year.”

Senior Forward Willie Galick agrees with the idea of having Matador Madness because it gets the fans pumped and it gives them momentum into the new season.

“I like the concept because we are trying to ride that high from last year and get everyone involved,” Galick said. “Get everyone back on the band wagon, just keep riding it all the way to the season. This is a good start because last year we really didn’t have anything like that.”

The main reason why Matador Madness has so much hype is because of the success the men had last season, but the women want to take advantage of the publicity to show the fans that they also have talent.

“I’m excited to get the exposure this year,” junior forward Bianca Davies said. “Have everybody come out, especially since the men’s basketball team did so well. So we will get the opportunity to let other people see us.”

Watching the teams practice isn’t the only thing Northridge fans will get. They will get the chance to get autographs of their favorite Matadors and to interact with them.

“We want to mingle with them (fans),” Hill said. “So they get to know the new players.”

After the autograph session, men’s basketball coach Bobby Braswell and women’s basketball coach Staci Schulz will talk to the crowd and give their thoughts about their teams.

Matador Madness is similar to some of the events basketball powerhouses Duke, the University of North Carolina and many other top schools have before the season starts. Overall the event should be interesting and senior guard Kenny Daniels wants to make sure the fans fave fun.

“It’s going to be a good event to come out and have the fans support,” Daniels said. “We’re going to put a show for the fans and have some fun.”