July 2nd: On this date...

... in 2008, your University of Kentucky basketball museum closed its doors after it was no longer able to support itself financially. The museum opened its doors February 13, 1999, before a game with South Carolina. Fans were able to walk among the hallowed timeline of Kentucky basketball history, giving many youngsters a sense of what their fathers got to experience a generation earlier. Among the highlights were an interactive area where fans could make a radio call of great Kentucky basketball moments, as well as play "virtual one-on-one" against a favorite Wildcat. Van Florence was hired on late to try and help save the museum, but it had been too far in debt to recover. Contractors had estimated the museum would bring 130,000 fans annually, and average 110,000 visitors yearly thereafter. The opening year brought 27,000 people, averaging only 19,000 visitors each year. The University assumed the debt and pieces from the museum are featured in the Craft Center as a sort of Walk of Fame.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach