It wasn’t exactly madness, but at least it was something to whet the appetites of the Bearcat faithful.

On a rainy afternoon Saturday, the Events Center was the site of the first annual “BU Bearcats Hoop Fest.” The event, sponsored by the athletics department, was the first chance for fans to see the men’s and women’s basketball teams this season.

It started in the morning, with the men’s and women’s basketball teams hosting a clinic for the Junior Bearcats, with a chance for the fans to get autographs from their favorite player afterward. The kids got to shoot around, play on the court and pretend to be their favorite Bearcat.

After that, it was time for the Bearcats to show off their squads. Both teams played two 12-minute halves of running time. First the women took the floor, followed by the men, then the women and finally finishing up with the men again. The teams looked sharp and ready for the season to start.

It wasn’t exactly a packed Events Center, but there was a small trace of some BU Zoo members warming up for the first game. Maybe it was the weather or the fact that it was a Saturday morning, but it was far from the turnouts Late Nite Madness had drawn in the past.

Afterward there was free food and a chance to talk to and meet the players and coaches. A small video was shown and the coaches got a chance to speak to everyone who stayed.

It was organized, quiet and a good chance to see some basketball and meet the players. But if the school was looking for it to be more of an upbeat school spirit pep rally to get people really pumped up for the season, they missed the mark.