Louisville, Kentucky. The Greater Louisville UK Alumni Club in partnership with Central Bank will offer a ?daily double? on the eve of the Breeder?s Cup in Louisville. The annual basketball tip-off luncheon with UK Basketball Coach Orlando ?Tubby? Smith and Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart will be held on Friday, November 3 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Marriott Downtown. Honored guests, signing autographs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., will be members of Coach Adolph Rupp’s beloved 1966 team ?Rupp?s Runts.? Coach Tubby Smith will take the stage at noon to preview the upcoming season. Video highlights and door prizes will be offered. After the luncheon event, a limited number of tickets to the Third Floor finish line at Churchill Downs are available for UK fans to enjoy Breeder?s Cup eve racing.
Coach Tubby Smith has served as the head coach at UK since 1997. In his first season, he coached the Wildcats to their seventh NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. Coach Smith was honored as a Coach of the Year in 2003, and was the recipient of the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award for 2005. He has led teams to 11-straight 20-win seasons. He totaled 100 wins quicker than any other Wildcat coach except Hall of Famer Adolph Rupp, reaching the plateau in 130 games. Since taking over the UK program, he has won 79 percent of his games despite playing a schedule that annually ranks among the nation’s toughest.
Rupp?s Runts commemorate their 40th anniversary season this year. The 1965-66 UK team earned this nickname because the tallest man among the Wildcats starting five was guard Tommy Kron, at 6-5. The team became one of Rupp?s favorites during his long tenure at Kentucky and compiled a sparkling 27-2 record, coming just one win shy of the NCAA title when upset by Texas Western in the finals, 72-65. Starters Louie Dampier, Tommy Kron, and Thad Jaracz are scheduled to attend the 2006 Tip-Off Event at the Marriott.
Tickets for the Tip-Off Event and autograph opportunity are $30, with a discounted price of $28 for UK Alumni Association members. The UK Afternoon at Churchill Downs is an additional $20 per person and includes a racing program. Churchill Downs’ tickets are limited to those attending the Tip-Off event and will be distributed at the luncheon. To order tickets for both events (or for the Tip-Off luncheon only) charge by phone with Visa or MasterCard at Central Bank at (502) 493-2334 or purchase in person at Central Bank?s main office in the ?flashcube? building at Hurstbourne Lane and Shelbyville Road. Tickets may also be ordered by mail by sending payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Jeannie Livesay, 2021 Bainbridge Row Drive, Louisville, KY 40207.
The Greater Louisville UK Alumni Club welcomes Central Bank as its 2006 Corporate Partner. Additional sponsors for the event are Deming, Malone, Livesay & Ostroff Certified Public Accountants, WHAS AM, WAVE TV, and Porter Paints.
