Tributes never get old for Keightley family

'mr. wildcat' remembered again in rupp

By Jerry Tipton / jtipton@herald-leader.com

Re-retiring a jersey, black uniforms and a chance to sit in his chair on the bench on Sunday became the latest ways Kentucky honored the late Bill Keightley.

Keightley, who worked in UK basketball's equipment room for 48 years, died this spring. In honor of his service and iconic status as "Mr. Wildcat," UK unveiled a No. 48 jersey in the Rupp Arena rafters at halftime of its game with Mississippi Valley State.

The latest ceremony followed such past gestures as a black "K" and the words "Mr. Wildcat" on the jerseys, a scholarship fund for managers in his name, a charity golf tournament, the school's Athletic Association partially funding his oral history, a "K" and the words "Mr. Wildcat" on the floor in front of his seat, the equipment room named in his honor and a $20,000 memorial service.

It might seem a bit much, but not to his widow Hazel and daughter, Karen, who attended the game and watched a tribute on Rupp Arena's video screens.

"He deserves it," Karen said.

Added Hazel, "It makes us feel really good because there's no one left but Karen and me."

Karen sat in her father's seat next to UK Coach Billy Gillispie. She left the bench in the first half and returned to a seat next to her mother four rows off the court.

"They needed their space," Karen said. "They had a game to play."

The crowd, which included former UK assistant Mike Sutton and former UK player Sean Woods (now coaching Mississippi Valley State), applauded several times during the tribute.

The ceremony concluded with the video that included the Frank Sinatra version of My Way.

Hazel, who was married to Keightley for 57 years, saw the music as appropriate.

"He did everything he wanted to do his whole life," she said. "I just followed him."

The UK players did not see the halftime ceremony.

"He's a legend," Patrick Patterson said. "Not one day goes by we don't think of Mr. Keightley."

The reminder of black uniforms met with the players' enthusiastic approval. They didn't know they'd be wearing anything but black shoes until they returned to the locker room after pre-game warmups.

Then they saw the black uniforms, trimmed in blue, in their lockers.

"We were like kids waking up on Christmas," Patterson said. "Jaws dropped open. People wanted to start taking pictures."

Schedules

UK has a week off before playing Indiana on Saturday. While saying UK can be a "phenomenal defensive team," Gillispie said the Cats will work on all phases of their game.

The game completed a stretch of five games in 10 days. That stretch taught UK the value of its top-notch conditioning, Gillispie said.

Meanwhile, Mississippi Valley State (0-10) continued a schedule surely arranged by the Marquis de Sade travel agency: 10 straight road games with trips to Arizona and Washington State in the mix.

"You could get North Carolina to play my schedule and I guarantee they'll have two losses, at least," said Woods, who inherited the schedule as a first-year coach.

Correction

A Sunday note incorrectly said that UK would have a small gathering on Dec. 17 to celebrate Keightley's birthday. There will not be such a celebration, spokesman DeWayne Peevy said.

Etc.

Freshman Darius Miller played a season-low 11 minutes. "I'm not trying to teach any lessons," said Gillispie, who then seemed to contradict himself. "If you want to play, you have to play harder."

Michael Porter played with a blue headband in the first half, then without the headband in the second half.