Kentucky practices in the stunning Joe Craft Center, a $30-million facility that opened in 2007, and plays in 23,000-seat Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington. from London to London... from Athens to Athens... from Warsaw to Warsaw
The practice facility and offices at Kentucky are amazing. I cannot believe what they have available there. DICK VITALE, ESPN from Frankfort to Frankfurt... from Paris to Paris... and everywhere in between
WINNING ATMOSPHERE RUPP ARENA Adolph Rupp is synonymous with winning. As coach of Kentucky, he was a pioneer in the Wildcats fast-break offense while becoming the winningest coach the game had ever seen. The site that now serves as a tribute to his outstanding coaching accomplishments Rupp Arena has become one of the most recognizable gymnasiums in the world while serving as home to college basketball s most storied program. Now in its 34th season as the Kentucky Wildcats home court, the facility has seen UK win 88 percent of its home games since it was opened in 1976. Built by the city of Lexington, the arena is the major portion of the $53 million Lexington Center RUPP ARENA FACTS Capacity: 23,000 UK s All-Time Record at Rupp: 427-60 (.877) Most Wins in a Season: 18, 1985-86 Longest Winning Streak: 33, 1-29-92 to 2-9-94 132
Kentucky has led the nation in attendance 20 times since Rupp Arena opened, including 13 of the last 14 seasons. complex, which includes an expanded conventionexhibition hall, a 50-store tri-level enclosed shopping mall and a Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Cats have won 20 national attendance titles since moving to Rupp for the 1976-77 season, including 13 in the last 14 years. Last year, UK averaged 22,239 fans at home. Kentucky has rewarded those fans by posting a 427-60 (.877) all-time record in Rupp Arena, including a 240-35 (.873) record in regular-season SEC games in downtown Lexington. Rupp Arena has served as NCAA Tournament host site 11 times, including the 1985 Final Four. Rupp will host the NCAA Tournament 1st/2nd rounds in 2013. 133
JOE CRAFT CENTER As the headquarters of UK Athletics and Kentucky basketball, the Joe Craft Center provides the Wildcats with a multi-purpose practice and training center unlike any other in the nation. Located across the street from the Wildcat Lodge and just minutes from Rupp Arena, it brings together the various aspects of UK s practice, athletic training and treatment, strength training and conditioning, team meetings and film review all under one roof. The building is named after Hazard (Ky.) native Joe Craft, who gave $6 million towards the $30 million state-of-the-art facility. 134
It s important to give each of our programs the facilities that are necessary for them to compete. The construction of the Joe Craft Center is the most important thing we could have done for Kentucky Basketball and the athletics department in total. MITCH BARNHART, UK ATHLETICS DIRECTOR 135
JOE CRAFT CENTER LOCKER ROOM 136
The circular design of Kentucky s spacious team locker room provides each player with plenty of space while promoting team unity. 137
JOE CRAFT CENTER WEIGHT ROOM Kentucky utilizes the best basketball weight room in the country, where every piece of equipment is selected to train athletes to their fullest. The 3,000 square-foot Joe Craft Center weight room under the direction of men s basketball strength and conditioning coach Todd Forcier contains top-of-the-line equipment, such as Power Lift, Vertimax, Iron Grip, Woodway and Hammer Strength. Surrounded by 46-inch flat-screen plasmas, the facility incorporates a multimedia workout experience for the Wildcats. Each individual basketball player s workout is posted on the screens, as opposed to printed paper. As with the rest of the Craft Center, the facility is available to UK basketball players 12 months out of the year. WEIGHT ROOM RENOVATED FOR 2009-10 SEASON With contributions from donors, including Jesse & Patricia Rice, UK was able to renovate the weight room in preparation for the upcoming season. 138
CUSTOM FIT FOR BASKETBALL Every piece of weight room equipment in the Joe Craft Center is customized for the length and height of the UK men s basketball players. 139
JOE CRAFT CENTER TRAINING ROOM W ith nearly 3,500 square feet, the UK training room at the Joe Craft Center provides Kentucky basketball players with the resources to stay in top physical shape, including a physician's office for private consultations. In addition to rehabilitation and treatment equipment, UK's training room features a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy room with a Hydroworx unit (underwater treadmill), an eight-person hot tub and an eight-person cold tub. 140
Wildcat student-athletes receive the very best care and treatment from a knowledgeable staff working with cutting edge facilities. THE BEST FOR THE BEST With prior experience in the SEC, NFL and professional basketball, Chris Simmons brings a wealth of experience to this year s training staff as Kentucky s new men s basketball trainer. 141
E Q U I P M E N T PROUD TO BE A NIKE ELITE SCHOOL Wildcat basketball players receive an impressive array of Nike athletic apparel. CHAMPIONSHIP INSPIRATION The Secretariat checkerboard pattern remains a part of the UK uniforms this season along with the Pattern of Excellence. 142
E Q U I P M E N T Only Champions Wear Titanium K entucky not only wears Nike, but is under an allschool contract with the athletic apparel company. In 1997, UK signed the popular contract with the makers of the trademark swoosh. Thanks to Nike s extensive research and product development, UK student-athletes stay on the cutting edge of quality and style with all of their gear. All 22 sports use Nike shoes and equipment and over the course of the contract, the Wildcats will receive millions of dollars worth of clothing and equipment. The men s basketball team has been recognized by the apparel company as a Titanium team its highest distinction. One of the shoe choices for UK men s basketball players this season is the LeBron Zoom Soldier III from the LeBron James Witness collection. While clothing adorned with Kentucky was already popular throughout the nation, thanks to Nike and its international marketing reach, UK s blue and white can now be found worldwide. 143