Kentucky basketball fans are accustomed to watching both the men’s and women’s teams play in famous and historical venues. Rupp Arena and Memorial Coliseum are known around the college basketball world as near cathedrals of the game.When the UK women’s basketball team tips off its run in the 2011 NCAA Tournament against Hampton on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET, the Wildcats will do so in an gym with similar notoriety, but with a much different look and feel.UK’s first- and second-round games will be played University Arena in Albuquerque, N.M., the home court of the New Mexico Lobos for nearly a half century. The arena is better known by “The Pit,” a nickname stemming from the distinctive construction of the arena. In 1966, builders first constructed a roof, then dug a 37-foot hole under the newly built roof. Then, concrete was poured and almost 15,000 seats were installed. After two renovation projects in 1975 and 2009, the current capacity of The Pit is more than 17,000.Based on both the uniqueness of the building itself and the environment that Lobo fans create, USA Today, Rivals.com and FoxSports.com have all named The Pit among the elite gyms in college basketball. Sports Illustrated also named it one of the top 20 venues in all of 20th century sports.Also adding to the mystique of The Pit is that, while underground, it sits a mile above sea level. The impact of the thin air will be something to be mindful of this weekend, particularly with the fast-paced style of play Matthew Mitchell emphasizes.The team arrived in Albuquerque early Wednesday afternoon and dined atop Sandia Peak, which is more 10,000 feet high, so the Wildcats’ lungs will have had a few days to adjust by the time they take the floor Saturday.Late Friday afternoon, Mitchell and the UK players will be available to the media before practice. I will have a story for you heading into the game as well as updates on A’dia Mathies healing back and how the Cats are adjusting to the altitude.