Illini Basketball Uniforms

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Ugh. I hate admitting it, but envious of Michigan's uniforms. They are exactly the sort of style we need, and mad points for how they match their compression gear with it (I hate whenever I see our guys wearing black instead of matching the uni color).

At the same time, unimpressed with UVA's version tonight and would not want that look for us.

Yep, Michigan is a great example of how your “regular” jersey can still be classic/throwback … also see Indiana or Kansas. The idea that we need to have a modern Mizzou/Iowa State type font must die! Down with 1LL1NO1S!

We already have two throwbacks that are widely recognized as some of the best uniforms in college hoops. My vote is to flesh them each out in the three colors and have those simply be our jerseys. However, if one simply insists we have “new” jerseys and only wear the throwbacks for special occasions, then we can still have our regulars be classic in style.

I’m sorry, but I cringe when we wear the regulars. Perception matters, and all my non-Illini friends comment on how great our throwbacks are and yet how bland and lame our regulars are.

 

[21ChampaignSt]

I think there are two kinds of jersey designs. Those that are timeless. And those that try to reflect the trends of the time.

If you're taking the latter approach, then you need to update frequently or come out with frequent novelty jerseys...Honestly, just do this anyway. Your jersey doesn't have to be sacred. The reason our current design is so bland is because it is literally just our brand guidelines slapped on a jersey. It's a modern jersey that doesn't take any risks and thus will never be considered as a throwback in future generations.

However, I'm partial to the timeless look. Indiana is a good example. The Bulls are a good example. I'm not sure if I would consider the script jerseys timeless because they feel very connected to a specific point in time. (Still love them btw).

I think I would most like to see us use the Fighting Illini jerseys as our standard jersey and wear them til the end of days then come out with a special alt jersey once a year that celebrates unique elements of our heritage and identity.

 

[tyrannosaurus scorus]

Have we even worn the script whites this year? Seems we just keep wearing our worst kits (the modern orange and white)

I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown in how often we wear the throwbacks in conference vs non-conference games. My general impression from the past few seasons (could be wrong) is that we rarely wore them during non-conference games.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown in how often we wear the throwbacks in conference vs non-conference games. My general impression from the past few seasons (could be wrong) is that we rarely wore them during non-conference games.

I know we wore them for the Arizona game last year, because I attended that one. We also wore them for Braggin' Rights, IIRC. My impression from last year (and the year before) is that we GENERALLY wore the throwbacks for "big games" (with the exception of wearing the regular oranges for the "Orange Out" vs. OSU last year) and wore the regulars for the other games ... and it created a weird situation where we were pretty much wearing our four jerseys at equal frequencies, and the throwbacks didn't feel like a "special occasion" thing at all.

On that last point, I think that's why a lot of fans like me just wanted the throwbacks to be the main jerseys. Seriously, other than this weird attachment to throwbacks being special (which is ridiculous, because schools with great jerseys like Kansas and Michigan just wear classic jerseys all the time, and it looks great!!), what is the argument for wearing our new ones? I respect a difference of opinion and all, but I don't think I have heard a single person say they don't prefer the throwbacks, haha.

I guess I understand the desire for consistency across sports, and the script is a very specific look ... so, if it were up to me, we would go with the 1980s "FIGHTING ILLINI" as our default font for everything, making our hoops jerseys:

Home

Away

Alternate (Hardly ever worn, as blue is cursed, amirite?? )

Throwback #1 (Big/special games and definitely each year at the UC and Braggin' Rights)

Throwback #2 (Big/special games and definitely each year at the UC and Braggin' Rights)

Throwback #3 (Busted out in the 2024-25 season to honor the anniversary!)

[DIA: I am willing and able to join the team...]

 

[sacraig]

I just bought a Dee Brown throwback from '05 because that will forever by my throwback. They were formative years for me.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I just bought a Dee Brown throwback from '05 because that will forever by my throwback. They were formative years for me.

Amazing what winning and nostalgia does, because I agree. However, I actually didn't used to love them ... thought they were kind of boring. I thought it was so cool when the 2005 team busted out the 1989 throwbacks (below) and thought it highlighted how bad our 2005 jerseys looked in comparison. However, after a decade plus of futility and random zig-zags and gray jerseys with white font that seemed to all get worse each year, those 2005 jerseys look mighty fine!

 

[sacraig]

Amazing what winning and nostalgia does, because I agree. However, I actually didn't used to love them ... thought they were kind of boring. I thought it was so cool when the 2005 team busted out the 1989 throwbacks (below) and thought it highlighted how bad our 2005 jerseys looked in comparison. However, after a decade plus of futility and random zig-zags and gray jerseys with white font that seemed to all get worse each year, those 2005 jerseys look mighty fine!

Well the 1989 throwbacks are cool. But the Bill Self/early Bruce Weber era was high school and college for me, so the 2005 jerseys are my jerseys which means they are now my throwbacks, while the 1989 throwbacks are more like the throwbacks.

That sounded ridiculous. I don't care.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

I keep seeing Kansas mentioned as "wearing throwbacks/timeless looks all the time" and that's just not true. KU's current font and design scheme dates all the way back to...2005. They're just good-looking uniforms that fit with their overall brand and feel much more entrenched than they actually are (and they won two titles in them, which helps).

The Kansas throwback look is this one, which they wear pretty sparingly, IIRC:

 

[BDMAN]

In my experience Nike is a crap product just as much as anyone else. They will also always treat some programs as their golden children and we are not one of those few.

Win and we will be, we are winning consistently again now, so the Nike swag and clout will come. I have no stats to back me up, but I bet the Nike golden programs win and sell a lot of team apparel and memorabilia thereby increasing Nike's exposure and bottom line.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I keep seeing Kansas mentioned as "wearing throwbacks/timeless looks all the time" and that's just not true. KU's current font and design scheme dates all the way back to...2005. They're just good-looking uniforms that fit with their overall brand and feel much more entrenched than they actually are (and they won two titles in them, which helps).

The Kansas throwback look is this one, which they wear pretty sparingly, IIRC:

When I said Kansas had a throwback/classic look, it was in reference to all of college basketball - not to KU hoops. So KU could have totally different uniforms than they had back in the day (and therefore they are not technically "throwbacks"), but they still look "classic" in style. The complete opposite of fonts at schools like Mizzou, Iowa State and 1LL1NO1S, which look like Nike's latest attempt to throw paint at the wall.

 

[ILLINIShox24]

Does anyone know if we have an obligation to wear 1LL1NO1S a certain number of times per year?

 

[Cook]

Thoughts on Purdue's simple, classic set tonight? I like it better than our moderns.

 

[altgeld88]

No, never. But that’s just me.

Not even these, which worked well in the late '70s with the matching whites? I'd love to see these out there.

 

[sacraig]

Does anyone know if we have an obligation to wear 1LL1NO1S a certain number of times per year?

111 times per year. It's written right there on the front of the shirt.

 

[jumpingjack]

Not even these, which worked well in the late '70s with the matching whites? I'd love to see these out there.

View attachment 21835

I would absolutely buy this on the spot.

 

[Illini in Italy]

Not even these, which worked well in the late '70s with the matching whites? I'd love to see these out there.

View attachment 21835

I just can‘t get into the script . . . but then I didn’t start following the Illini until I started classes at UI in ‘83, and the Fighting Illini uni’s precourser to the Flyin’ Illini.

 

[Cook]

Yep, Michigan is a great example of how your “regular” jersey can still be classic/throwback … also see Indiana or Kansas. The idea that we need to have a modern Mizzou/Iowa State type font must die! Down with 1LL1NO1S!

We already have two throwbacks that are widely recognized as some of the best uniforms in college hoops. My vote is to flesh them each out in the three colors and have those simply be our jerseys. However, if one simply insists we have “new” jerseys and only wear the throwbacks for special occasions, then we can still have our regulars be classic in style.

I’m sorry, but I cringe when we wear the regulars. Perception matters, and all my non-Illini friends comment on how great our throwbacks are and yet how bland and lame our regulars are.

perfect example tonight, why is all of our compression gear black? If we were effing Michigan we'd have orange to match our jersey. We could at the very least go with blue instead of black!

 

[georgeuremovich]

Now for important issues, any insider news on new basketball uniforms?

 

[theNewGuy]

Now for important issues, any insider news on new basketball uniforms?

I heard that the only Jersey that will be worn next season is a navy blue Illini script. Home/away doesn't matter.

 

[TheFlyingIllini1317]

Yet another reason why we should look at ABN (anyone but Nike). Basketeball?

View attachment 20931

A spelling error on a stupid t-shirt doesn't matter. Have you seen Adidas or Under Armor football or basketball jerseys? The materials look like crap, the designs are usually hideous, and they can't stop putting dark #'s on a dark jersey. Saint Mary's players looked like they had saggy t!ts those jerseys were so poorly made and ugly.

Edit: realized I replied to this twice but leaving it up

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I know we wore them for the Arizona game last year, because I attended that one. We also wore them for Braggin' Rights, IIRC. My impression from last year (and the year before) is that we GENERALLY wore the throwbacks for "big games" (with the exception of wearing the regular oranges for the "Orange Out" vs. OSU last year) and wore the regulars for the other games ... and it created a weird situation where we were pretty much wearing our four jerseys at equal frequencies, and the throwbacks didn't feel like a "special occasion" thing at all.

On that last point, I think that's why a lot of fans like me just wanted the throwbacks to be the main jerseys. Seriously, other than this weird attachment to throwbacks being special (which is ridiculous, because schools with great jerseys like Kansas and Michigan just wear classic jerseys all the time, and it looks great!!), what is the argument for wearing our new ones? I respect a difference of opinion and all, but I don't think I have heard a single person say they don't prefer the throwbacks, haha.

I guess I understand the desire for consistency across sports, and the script is a very specific look ... so, if it were up to me, we would go with the 1980s "FIGHTING ILLINI" as our default font for everything, making our hoops jerseys:

Home

Away

Alternate (Hardly ever worn, as blue is cursed, amirite?? )

Throwback #1 (Big/special games and definitely each year at the UC and Braggin' Rights)

Throwback #2 (Big/special games and definitely each year at the UC and Braggin' Rights)

Throwback #3 (Busted out in the 2024-25 season to honor the anniversary!)

[DIA: I am willing and able to join the team...]

... Bump.

 

[redwingillini11]

A spelling error on a stupid t-shirt doesn't matter. Have you seen Adidas or Under Armor football or basketball jerseys? The materials look like crap, the designs are usually hideous, and they can't stop putting dark #'s on a dark jersey. Saint Mary's players looked like they had saggy t!ts those jerseys were so poorly made and ugly.

Edit: realized I replied to this twice but leaving it up

Yes, this again. Adidas is really a joke of a uniform provider, and Under Armour seems good from afar but it sounds like they are not in great shape to be getting into a partnership moving forward, especially if basketball is a priority for us. Nike is a bit of a monopoly, and we are not a priority for them, but they are probably our best option.

 

[Cook]

Jordan Brand ftw

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

People keep saying we are “not a priority” for Nike … who is, and why do we believe this? Besides the Blue Bloods, we’d be as profitable for them as anyone else; even when we were bad, we were one of the 15 most profitable basketball programs in the nation. Of the “Blue Bloods” and programs I grew up thinking of as “Blue Blood” or close, these are the brands:

Kentucky: Nike
North Carolina: Jordan
Kansas: Adidas
UCLA: Jordan
Duke: Nike
Indiana: Adidas
Louisville: Adidas
UConn: Nike
Villanova: Nike

The following are some examples of programs I’d consider just above/in/just below our tier historically or due to other factors like having (at least) as big of a fan base as ours, followed by some traditional football powers and/or football programs with massive fan bases:

Michigan State: Nike
Ohio State: Nike
Syracuse: Nike
Arizona: Nike
Michigan: Jordan
Arkansas: Nike
Texas: Nike
Florida: Jordan
Georgetown: Jordan
Purdue: Nike
Maryland: Under Armour
Wisconsin: Adidas

The only schools I’d say Nike is 100% prioritizing over us - and literally everyone - for quality basketball uniforms are Oregon (duh), Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State and Texas. Even UConn and Villanova are probably just lumped into the same big bucket as us. I admit I don’t know, but do we really think traditional football powerhouses that use Nike but keep their football jerseys literally the same each year (Alabama, Georgia, PSU, USC mostly) are cutting to the front of the line for Nike’s creativity regarding basketball uniforms? I don’t.

 

[Cook]

People keep saying we are “not a priority” for Nike … who is, and why do we believe this? Besides the Blue Bloods, we’d be as profitable for them as anyone else; even when we were bad, we were one of the 15 most profitable basketball programs in the nation. Of the “Blue Bloods” and programs I grew up thinking of as “Blue Blood” or close, these are the brands:

Kentucky: Nike
North Carolina: Jordan
Kansas: Adidas
UCLA: Jordan
Duke: Nike
Indiana: Adidas
Louisville: Adidas
UConn: Nike
Villanova: Nike

The following are some examples of programs I’d consider just above/in/just below our tier historically or due to other factors like having (at least) as big of a fan base as ours, followed by some traditional football powers and/or football programs with massive fan bases:

Michigan State: Nike
Ohio State: Nike
Syracuse: Nike
Arizona: Nike
Michigan: Jordan
Arkansas: Nike
Texas: Nike
Florida: Jordan
Georgetown: Jordan
Purdue: Nike
Maryland: Under Armour
Wisconsin: Adidas

The only schools I’d say Nike is 100% prioritizing over us - and literally everyone - for quality basketball uniforms are Oregon (duh), Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State and Texas. Even UConn and Villanova are probably just lumped into the same big bucket as us. I admit I don’t know, but do we really think traditional football powerhouses that use Nike but keep their football jerseys literally the same each year (Alabama, Georgia, PSU, USC mostly) are cutting to the front of the line for Nike’s creativity regarding basketball uniforms? I don’t.

Good questions. Every time we hear that it takes a couple of years for us to get any kind of uni update, I just wonder how Ok. St. is able to get so many so quickly?