Almost a week ago, news leaked that the UK basketball museum was closing due to a large debt it couldn’t overcome.

The museum wasn’t part of the University, but UK did donate up to $100,000 a year to help the museum out. Before closing, the museum was housed in the Lexington Center, which connects to Rupp Arena. Now, the museum is closed, the exhibits and donated items are being returned and UK athletics is saying they will somehow create something in the Joe Craft Center, although nothing like museum. No final word on what the new creation will be.

And then I went and read Jerry Tipton’s basketball notebook that the Herald-Leader publishes every Sunday. In the notebook, Tipton talks about what he thinks UK will do to honor the late Mr. Wildcat, Bill Keightley. Tipton says that UK hasn’t decided what to yet, but Tipton suggests making the “K” on the jerseys black, or placing a big “K” on the court in front of Keightley’s chair.

Of course, a lot of people are saying they should leave that chair empty. And that’s a good idea, as are Tipton’s. But here’s a better one: Create a smaller, more interactive UK basketball museum in the Joe Craft Center. Then name it after Bill Keightley.

In essence, The Bill Keightley UK Basketball Museum.

The museum could have a huge exhibit around the man who has seen more UK basketball games than anyone else. It could be the feature exhibit and surely would gather a crowd to see it.

Of course, the new museum in the Craft Center would have be to be interactive, but anyone who has stepped foot in the Craft Center knows technology isn’t new to the building. Naming the museum after Keightley and making him the centerpiece of a new venture would be a fitting tribute and a good way to preserve the great tradition of UK basketball. Then, all the other exhibits that made up the UK basketball museum could be updated, made interactive and placed around the Keightley exhibit.

If the Craft Center doesn’t have enough room, build another floor. Or move the exhibits around Memorial Coliseum as part of a tour of both the Coliseum, the Craft Center and the Museum. There are ways to make this happen. And if donors know that the new museum will be in Keightley’s honor, that may help sideline any costs.

Coaches have come and gone, leaving their mark. While most think Adolph Rupp and UK Basketball, true fans put Bill Keightley right beside Mr. Rupp. Rupp has the arena named after him. Let’s give Mr. Wildcat the building where all of the UK basketball history will reside.

I can think of no more fitting a tribute.

This morning, we released our top 11 list of the best things to happen in UK athletics this past year. Of course, we realistic and we know that not everything was rosy for UK this year. That’s why we also made a Top 10 list of the WORST things that happened from June 20, 2007 to today.

Top 10 Worse Things that happened in UK Athletics in the Past Year:

1.Mr. Wildcat passes away, but his spirit always lives on. Mike Lyden, UK’s swimming and diving coach, passes away a short time later

2.Gardner Webb, Houston, San Diego. Nuff said.

3.UK fails to overcome history, loses to Tennessee in 4 OT at home in football.

You might question why this is so high, since it seems like UK will never beat Tennessee in football. And that’s why I put it here. Close in 2006, even close in 2007. This loss was heartbreaking.

4.Basketball team has so many injuries throughout the year that it opens a rehab center at the Joe Craft Center.

Meeks… Patterson… Jasper… the list was endless. So we lumped them.

5.Despite having the best season in 3 decades, UK players are snubbed in the NFL draft, not going until the 4th round.

6.John Cohen leaves the UK baseball, deciding to take over as coach at Mississippi State.

7.Alex Legion transfers in-season. Derrick Jasper transfers once the year is over.

Legion was a shooter who could have helped if his mom wasn’t nuts. Jasper would have been starting point guard this season. Make excuses, but they aren’t good things.

8.After Billy Gillispie gets a commitment from an eighth-grader, everyone outside the state goes crazy and the NABC decides to strongly suggest stopping that practice. Gillispie complies.

9.After a promising summer, Scott Green bombs as a starting pitcher and the Cats still fall short of winning a NCAA regional

10. UK fails to advance out of the first round of the NCAA tournament in basketball.

That’s our bad list. Scroll down for the good list if this just isn’t your cup of tea. As always, disagree? You know what to do.

The shot clock has run out on one of UK’s best attractions–the UK basketball museum at Rupp Arena.

And your favorite Herald-Leader writer has all the details.

After the passing last week of “Mr. Wildcat” Bill Keightley, my mind started running through different ways to honor the legendary man. It became obvious that it would be difficult. How do you honor a man who worked in an equipment room with his own name on it? I have decided to come up with a few suggestions for ways to honor one of the most influential people in Kentucky Basketball history.