BIG BLUE FANS FOR
BASKETBALL
FAN MEMORIES AND KEEPSAKES
THE FIRST UKIT CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
DECEMBER 1953
LaSalle, UCLA, Duke, and Kentucky
In December 1953, Coach Adolph Rupp initiated a UK Basketball Tradition with the first ever University of Kentucky Invitational Tournament. The UKIT was a first of its kind event that many programs tried to emulate over the years, but never equalled. Coach Rupp's vision was to assemble four of the best teams in the nation for a Holiday Tournament that did not require travel to New York City where unsavory influences could distract the players, or even worse.
The UKIT became a Christmas tradition in the Bluegrass and continued every December for 36 years, from 1953 to 1989 when the University of Kentucky retired the tradition after the 37th annual UKIT.
The following pages provide the complete program of the inaugaral UKIT which included LaSalle, UCLA, Duke, and Kentucky.
The program for this game was 20 pages including the front and back covers. Check that entire Program out right here. CLICK HERE FOR All Pages In Sequence, or Select the links below for specific pages, and browse them with the navigation links provided at the bottom of each individual page.
Pages 1 and 2 Pages 3 and 4 Pages 5 and 6
Pages 7 and 8 Pages 9 and 10 Pages 11 and 12
Pages 13 and 14 Pages 15 and 16 Pages 17and 18
Submitted by Ron Goodbub
Read Mr. Goodbub's Story of his 53 and counting year love affair with the Cats.
Copyright 2006
SugarHill Communications of Kentucky
All Rights Reserved