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UK hoops museum closes

July 02, 2008|Keith Taylor/Sun Sports Editor

One door has closed, while another will eventually open.

The UK Basketball Museum closed its doors at Rupp Arena earlier this week, ending a tenure filled with financial burden.

The museum opened to the public nine years ago, but a $3 million debt forced the museum to cease operations. Kentucky plans to help retire some of the debt.

"The University and the board of directors of the basketball museum have been in discussions recently regarding the UK Basketball Museum," University of Kentucky deputy athletics director Rob Mullens said in a statement released by the university Tuesday. "UK has contributed $100,000 annually for the past several years toward the museum's operations. As part of our discussions, the university will be utilizing its contribution to the museum's operations to help the facility and the board retire the operation's long-term debt. We are pleased with the continued progress of our discussions."

Mullens said the school will look for alternative ways to secure the program's rich history. A possible relocation could be at the Craft Center.

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"We are, of course, committed to ensuring that the history and tradition of UK basketball is represented in a manner in which our fans and supporters have come to expect and deserve," Mullen said. "We will release final details of this process once it is completed."

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