Jessup energizes gym with annual Warrior Madness

College basketball season officially arrived Thursday night at Jessup University as students, fans and community members packed Warrior Arena in Rocklin for the annual Warrior Madness celebration. The high-energy tipoff for men's and women's basketball has become one of the most anticipated nights on campus. "It's awesome," said men's head coach Mark Darnall, taking in the scene. "It's great for our guys and for the student-athletes. The women's team, the men's team, it's great to do this together in a small college atmosphere like this. You can't beat it." The stands were filled well before the event began with music, contests and a full slate of team introductions fueling the excitement. Fans watched in awe for the traditional dunk and 3-point competitions, while the crowd made its presence known throughout the night. "The place was absolutely packed," Darnall said. "Our administration does a great job, and the student body really shows up. Even a bunch of our community members came out. It really made for a lot of fun." There was an additional buzz in the air around this basketball season, as it marks the first year the Warriors are eligible for NCAA postseason play after completing the transition requirements. Darnall says he has high expectations for this team and Thursday night was a fun way to start what he hopes is a successful season. The highlight for Darnall and the men's team came in the 3-point shootout, where Long Beach State transfer Varick Lewis put on a show to secure bragging rights and reclaim the throne from the women's squad. "I told them I wasn't worried about which guy was winning," Darnall laughed. "I said, we've got to beat the girls this year. We can't let them beat us again. And Varick did a great job. He hit that 20 number and killed it. So we're definitely glad we took that home." With both Jessup teams set to open their seasons, Warrior Madness served as a reminder of the energy and support behind the programs. The men will open at Sacramento State on Nov. 7, and the women meet San Jose State on Oct. 29.