Nike reveals new uniforms for eight schools, including Kentucky and Duke

Nike reveals new uniforms for eight college basketball teams, including Kentucky, Duke, Arizona and Syracuse.

Author:
Tim Newcomb
Publish date:
Feb 20, 2015

Nike has built in a flocked “wipe zone” on the hips of their newest NCAA basketball uniforms. Couple that with lining inside the neck to wipe sweat away from the face, and these eight new rivalry designs for late February and March give Nike the most anti-sweat uniform to date.

As part of the new collection of six uniforms for men’s programs and two for women’s programs, the white-based tops and shorts also includes lightweight stretch mesh in the back of the jersey, new lightweight fabric in the front, a perforated, vented waistband in the short, perforated zones in the side of the short and flex venting near the knee to reduce weight and improve cooling.

But it is the addition of a wipe zone on the hips that gives players a place to dry their hands.

New Nike college basketball uniforms

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From an aesthetic point of view, the Hyper Elite uniforms all have a school-specific graphic across the side of the shorts angled at 26 degrees to mimic a classic Nike track jacket from 1978.

On the men’s side, Arizona’s graphic includes its multi-bar look we see now. Duke has expanded its diamond pattern while Syracuse gives us more blocks. Florida has a Gator print and Oregon duck wings. Kentucky’s graphic is a checkerboard.

Ugliest Uniforms in Sports History

Chicago White Sox

White Sox outfielder Ralph Garr models the shorts worn by the team for three games during the 1976 season.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates advertised these duds as a "uniform of the future" when they wore these during a 1999 game against the Mets.

Baylor Bears

Baylor's basketball team sported these blindingly-fluorescent uniforms in March 2012.

New York Islanders

It's been a rough couple of decades for Islanders fans, and this fisherman-themed third jersey didn't help matters

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

130315122602-notre-dame-uniform-tom-knight-single-image-cut.jpg — Chris Chambers/Getty Images

Notre Dame broke out its new basketball uniforms at the 2013 Big East tournament, creating a wave of criticism. The neon lime-green uniforms may have tried to associate with the Irish, but it proved the Fighting Irish should stick to their traditional colors of blue and gold.

Jorge Campos

Whatever the Mexican goalkeeper had in soccer ability, he lacked in fashion sense.

Golden State Warriors

In 2013, the Warriors went where no NBA team had gone before: over their own players' shoulders. The form-fitting yellow alternate jersey design included sleeves that went down to the mid bicep.

1994 U.S. World Cup Team

Alexi Lalas and the U.S. made it to the Round of 16 at the 1994 World Cup, but any pride the team may have felt was quickly erased with this uniform.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks made uniform history with these duds, which featured no logo and a "V" starting at the collar.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets wore "rainbow" road jerseys for nearly a decade.

Houston Astros

Joe Morgan wishes he was back in the Reds' "Big Red Machine" uniform rather than where this orange-tinted Astros dud.

Trenton Thunder

The Trenton Thunder were so excited to have Derek Jeter join the team as part of a rehab assignment in 2011, they designed these duds so he'd never forget his time there (as well as pay tribute to America).

Cleveland Indians

A pre-mustached Dennis Eckersley shows off the bright red Indians uniforms of the late '70s.

Toronto Raptors

Marcus Camby and Damon Stoudamire probably weren't celebrating the Raptors' imposing dinosaur in March 1997.

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

The Disney-owned Ducks never shied away from promoting a particular movie franchise. In 1995-96, the uniform designers must've thought the studio was releasing a a mash-up between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Slap Shot . Thankfully, these were shelved after just one season.

Los Angeles Kings

Even Wayne Gretzky couldn't look good in the Kings' short lived "Burger King" third jersey from the 1995-96 season.

Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes wore these Picasso-inspired third jerseys for five seasons.

Colorado Rockies

Larry Walker shows off this "futuristic" Rockies uniform, which the team wore for one game during the 1999 season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs' creamsicle jerseys and logo nicknamed Bucco Bruce may have been anything but intimidating, but at least that didn't stop Lee Roy Selmon (63).

San Diego Padres

Dave Winfield probably couldn't wait to don Yankee pinstripes over these duds.

New Orleans Hornets

These Mardi Gras-inspired uniforms might have been too flashy for the NBA in 2012.

Montreal Canadiens

In 2009, Montreal wore "barber pole" retro third jerseys featuring the distinctive look of narrow red, white and blue horizontal bands used by the team in 1912-13.

Pittsburgh Steelers

In honor of the franchise's 80th season, the Steelers brought back these throwback uniforms in 2012.

Denver Broncos

In 2009, the Broncos rolled out their original, yellow-and-brown uniforms as part of the NFL's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the AFL.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks opened eyes in 2009 when they debuted a lime-green jersey. They lasted one game and were dropped by then-coach Jim Mora because "we didn't win in them."

Washington Wizards

The Wizards, who many fans consider to have at one time had the best uniforms in NBA history, were at the opposite side of the spectrum with this gold and black alternate jersey worn from 2006 to 2009.

Maryland Terrapins

Maryland defeated Miami 32-24, but the game was secondary to the debut of Maryland's new uniforms in 2011. The Terrapins wore white uniforms patterned after the state flag and helmets splashed with red and white on one side and black and yellow on the other.

Philadelphia Eagles

There was definitely a reason the Eagles switched to green in the 1940s and have stuck with it since.

Jose Canseco

Canseco isn't the worst memory of the Rays' early days. It was their uniforms.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns returned to their "working-class origins" with these uniforms, which also come in brown and white.

For the women, Baylor features a paw print creating a bear scratch and Connecticut pays homage to the school’s current short style in an exaggerated fashion.

As part of the new collection, each team will also wear sleeveless vests for pre-game warm-ups.

The first on-court debut will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21, when Kentucky plays Auburn and Arizona faces UCLA.

Tim Newcomb covers stadiums, design and gear for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.