Bill Self is confident Allen Fieldhouse will be filled to capacity for Friday night’s Late Night in the Phog.

Tradition, after all, dictates nothing less than a full arena for Kansas University’s season-opening basketball practice.

But, hey, nothing’s guaranteed with thousands of students out of town on fall break.

“We can’t just assume it’ll be packed. School is not in session,” said third-year KU coach Self, hoping fans today will begin the work week by penciling in Late Night as a must-do event on their weekly planner. “We hope everybody will show.”

The event will run from 6:30 p.m. until about 9. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

“Kentucky has already sold theirs out,” Self said. “People had to pick up coupons, and they’ve already sold out 24,000. I can’t imagine our fans not doing the same.”

Free tickets for Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness took a little more than 48 hours to hand out. About 20,000 tickets were claimed during the first 35 minutes of availability.

KU has never gone the ticket route, instead opening the doors first-come first-served, with fans asked to bring a canned good for charity.

It has been an orderly process in the past, with fans lining up outside the building before the event and scurrying briskly into the building once doors are opened.

“Our Late Night : Sports Illustrated said last year it’s one of 100 things you have to do if you really follow athletics in the United States – attend Late Night in Allen Fieldhouse,” Self said. “I believe it’s true. It’s something a sports fan doesn’t want to miss.”

He believes this year’s event may be the best ever, considering the NCAA has allowed schools to hold the event during primetime instead at the stroke of midnight.

“The start time will benefit a lot of people, families with children,” Self said. “Before, the doors opened at 7, and you are out at 1:30 in the morning. Now the doors open at 5:30 and you’ll be out by 9:30. This gives people a chance to get home at a decent hour and gives you plenty of time to get there after work. It’s great for everybody.”

On display this year will be a KU team with five newcomers – Brandon Rush, Micah Downs, Julian Wright, Mario Chalmers and Rodrick Stewart – plus a refurbished fieldhouse which includes newly sanded and painted seats and a brand-new videoboard and auxiliary scoreboards, a new floor, lighting and sound system.

“If I was a fan, I’d want to see the new building, the newcomers and, of course, the national exposure, to showcase Kansas basketball, is important,” Self said, noting the Jayhawks would be featured on ESPNU from 8-9 p.m.

Per tradition, KU’s men’s and women’s players are expected to take part in skits and dancing as well as scrimmaging.

“I won’t say I know exactly what’s going to happen, but it’s going to be fun,” senior Christian Moody said.

Sherron Collins, a 5-foot-11 senior from Chicago’s Crane High School, will begin his first of three campus visits Friday when he attends Late Night. His high school coach, Anthony Longstreet, said one visit might be all the player needs to make a decision.

“It’s his decision,” Longstreet told the Chicago Tribune. “If he goes down there and says this is where I want to go, I’m not going to argue with him.”

Collins has visits to Illinois and Iowa set the following two weekends – assuming he can get away with football season going on. He’s a receiver/defensive back at Crane (5-2).