Which is one of the things I like most about them. Gave them an edge. Like those teams of the early 2000s, I think black and blue is perfectly fitting of the brand of basketball BU's teams play.
Illini Basketball Uniforms
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Then we added a random silver stripe in 2006, lol. I remember vividly because I was at their debut game in 2006 in Iowa City where we lost by 15 and crashed back down to Earth from our post-2005 high:
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
IIRC, that wasn't just us- that was one of those "Nike Elite" efforts were they pushed them out to several schools in the same season.
I always loathed that silver stripe. Made our jerseys look like K-Mart knockoffs.Then we added a random silver stripe in 2006, lol. I remember vividly because I was at their debut game in 2006 in Iowa City where we lost by 15 and crashed back down to Earth from our post-2005 high:
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
It’s almost impossible to improve the Script Whites but one way is by putting them next to Mizzou’s wordmark-less babypoop set, a true abomination.
Ryllini
- Lombard
I'm pretty sure those jerseys they have on are reversible. Junior high basketball style.
Whitmans Sampler
- Eastern Iowa
Anyone else notice during Jeremiah’s commitment, everyone except the toddler was sporting our script apparel? Big fan of the university’s subtle increased adoption of this font, and I’d love to hear that it’s part of a plan to kill off 1LL1NO1S entirely. We’re overdue for a uni upgrade, no? Can we PLEASE get the script set in all 3 colors, supplemented with the orange ‘89 throwbacks.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It’s one thing to keep using 1LL1NO1S randomly here and there because we’re like under contract or some BS, lol … but there’s zero reason to ever wear the usual basketball jerseys when we have two A++ throwbacks in both main colors.
Schools like Kansas, Indiana, UCLA, Kentucky, etc. have the same fonts on their jerseys that they did in past decades even if their ADs have different “brand” fonts for other purposes. Why the HELL have we not gotten White/Orange/Navy lineups of the Script or Flyin’ Illini jerseys (or better yet both!) and rocked only those?!
Schools like Kansas, Indiana, UCLA, Kentucky, etc. have the same fonts on their jerseys that they did in past decades even if their ADs have different “brand” fonts for other purposes. Why the HELL have we not gotten White/Orange/Navy lineups of the Script or Flyin’ Illini jerseys (or better yet both!) and rocked only those?!
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
If we can just get away from the awful Nike rebrand ltalics, I'm good with a set of modern uniforms. That italicized font looks bland and dated, and I thought that when it was originally introduced a decade ago. I try to not buy anything with that font on it.
I'm all in on the script Illinois and am happy it seems to be gaining more traction on the kind of stuff we wear in public. Since we lost the Chief (I know it's still on a few items, but it's never used on any uniforms or official coach apparel), having the script Illinois is at least an identity we can hold on to. I'd just like to see more of the coach half-zips available for sale - The one Underwood and his staff wore against Rutgers (at least I think it was Rutgers - the white one with the blue block I) was a particular favorite of mine.
I'm no designer, but if I had the final call on basketball uniforms I'd go with this.
1) Script uniforms with the current white design in white, blue and orange, and that would be our primary. Do not change a thing on the white uniforms - I honestly think that is one of the top 3-4 uniforms in all of college basketball. For the blue and orange, I'd probably stay with the white "diamond" on the shorts to maintain a consistent design concept with all three uniforms.
2) Flying Illini throwbacks in orange and white. As much as I do like the Flying Illini blues, I just don't think we'd wear them enough.
3) A blue "third uniform" that would be the design that Nike and the team could have some fun with. Just don't do the idiotic thing where we have a block I or the shield front and center on the chest like Miz-Noz and Iowa State do with their logos - I hate that look for all teams (See Iowa State logo below - I like that logo, but not displayed like that).
I'm all in on the script Illinois and am happy it seems to be gaining more traction on the kind of stuff we wear in public. Since we lost the Chief (I know it's still on a few items, but it's never used on any uniforms or official coach apparel), having the script Illinois is at least an identity we can hold on to. I'd just like to see more of the coach half-zips available for sale - The one Underwood and his staff wore against Rutgers (at least I think it was Rutgers - the white one with the blue block I) was a particular favorite of mine.
I'm no designer, but if I had the final call on basketball uniforms I'd go with this.
1) Script uniforms with the current white design in white, blue and orange, and that would be our primary. Do not change a thing on the white uniforms - I honestly think that is one of the top 3-4 uniforms in all of college basketball. For the blue and orange, I'd probably stay with the white "diamond" on the shorts to maintain a consistent design concept with all three uniforms.
2) Flying Illini throwbacks in orange and white. As much as I do like the Flying Illini blues, I just don't think we'd wear them enough.
3) A blue "third uniform" that would be the design that Nike and the team could have some fun with. Just don't do the idiotic thing where we have a block I or the shield front and center on the chest like Miz-Noz and Iowa State do with their logos - I hate that look for all teams (See Iowa State logo below - I like that logo, but not displayed like that).
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
No, we'd worn those in the win at UNC earlier that season.Then we added a random silver stripe in 2006, lol. I remember vividly because I was at their debut game in 2006 in Iowa City where we lost by 15 and crashed back down to Earth from our post-2005 high:
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Ah, good call. They’ll still always be MOSTLY remembered by me as the uniforms that the 2005 team shunned for all 39 games, haha.No, we'd worn those in the win at UNC earlier that season.
Call me crazy, but the Illinois script is both so popular and classic, it should replace the block I center court as part of our new identity (while sweeping away the mediocre periods we were identified with).
I know I'm in the very vast minority here, but I think it should remain a secondary word mark. And it's not because I don't love it. I just don't think it's unique. It seems like almost every school has a set of script jerseys now because it's on-trend. I do think ours looks the best, but I'm biased.
On the flip side, almost every school uses block letters, too. So, admittedly, there's nothing necessarily unique about ours. But I do think it's more timeless and traditional.
I think we should use the script until it goes out of style where appropriate. But I wouldn't do a full rebrand that revolves around the script.
JMO.
I think both the script uniform is our best Illini uniform (as you can see in my avatar) while also having some weird PTSD since we always wear the jersey for the weekend afternoon games where we look hungover (as well as the Loyola game). We did win the Big Ten in them a couple of times and I think they look great but can't lie when I see them on a Sunday or Saturday afternoon I get a little worried.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
Having gone back into this thread as I'm a bit of a uniform junkie, I feel like European soccer has it right when it comes to their kit concepts.
Home/Primary - Always a classic, timeless look. This is the uniform that everyone sees and instantly recognizes the team. Examples are the Cardinals, Dodgers, Packers, Blackhawks, Celtics, Brazil soccer (canary yellow shirts and blue shorts), and AC Milan (red and black stripes). You can have slightly different versions or minor tweaks, but this uniform is your identity.
Away/Secondary - More of an "all business" kind of look and one that clearly contrasts with the primary. Of course, for basketball this can easily be the road uniform.
Third kit - teams have a lot more license to be creative and "out there" with these kits.
In the case of soccer's AC Milan, they have a red and black striped primary, a very crisp white shirt with red and black accents for their secondary, and then a pretty crazy pink and purple third kit.
That's why I like the idea of the scripts and the Flying Illini uniforms being our primaries with the "third kit" either being a different throwback or something a little more out there or unique that's worn very sparingly. I don't know what the Nike budget is, but if you mixed and matched orange and white uniforms using these two templates and then used the blue uniform for a "third kit", I think you get a good mix of timeless with a splash of modern/experimental.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Haha, okay, this sent me down the rabbit hole of trying to find what jerseys we wore during some of my absolute favorite Illini victories of the past four seasons:
2019-20
Regular Orange - Illinois 71, #5 Michigan 62 in Champaign. Otherwise known as the Kofi punching the ref game, lol. This was the first time we could REALLY believe we had an objectively good team during the Underwood Era.
Regular Navy - Illinois 71, Wisconsin 70 in Madison. I know people hate on those jerseys, but this broke a SUPER long losing streak to Wisconsin and kicked off a huge hot streak that got us ranked for the first time in several years.
Regular Orange - #21 Illinois 64, Michigan 62 in Ann Arbor. Ayo's game winner, watched it with my dad. So awesome.
Regular White - #23 Illinois 78, #18 Iowa 76 in Iowa City. Kofi blocks Garza at the buzzer for revenge and the double bye for the BTT that never was.
2020-21
Regular Orange - #6 Illinois 83, #10 Duke 68 in Durham. Hearing Bilas hysterically cope and all of a sudden develop the opinion that the season should have been cancelled because of COVID was frickin' hilarious.
Flyin' Illini Throwbacks - #4 Illinois 76, #2 Michigan 53 in Ann Arbor. After all the smack their fans talked, we straight-up embarrassed them without Ayo. That was the day we became a #1 seed.
Regular Orange - #4 Illinois 73, #7 Ohio State 68 in Columbus. Ayo returns in the Batman mask to give us our third top 25 road victory in 10 days.
Script Throwbacks - #3 Illinois 82, #5 Iowa 71 in Indianapolis. We just straight-up were better than them, and it was seriously so fun to watch.
Script Throwbacks - #3 Illinois 91, #9 Ohio State 88 in OT in Indianapolis. BTT champions after being snubbed in the regular season. Kevin Warren being booed as he gave us the trophy was gold.
2021-22
Script Throwbacks - Illinois 88, Missouri 63 in St. Louis. My first Braggin' Rights Game, and we demolished them to break the losing streak.
Flyin' Illini Throwbacks - #18 Illinois 74, Indiana 57 in Bloomington. I was in Indy for this one for my sister's birthday, and I watched it at a brewery with my Illini gear on. It was so awesome.
Script Throwbacks - #20 Illinois 74, #24 Iowa 72 in Champaign. This one about sent me to an early grave, but ... BIG TEN CHAMPS!
... Honestly skipping last year.
2023-24
Script Throwbacks - #20 Illinois 98, #11 FAU 89 in New York. This was my birthday this year, and man what a fun game. This is when I bought us as a potential Elite Eight (or beyond) team.
Sorry to go so off-topic, but I think you raise a decent point that we tend to wear our two awesome throwbacks for "big games" or whatever, and that will correspond to more losses. However, I have noticed a trend since 2020 where we wear them more often, too. Which I love.
One thing is for sure ... if and when the day comes that we cut down the nets in early April, I want those orange Flyin' Illini jerseys being worn. It just feels right.
I think it’s time to do a throwback 2005 Uni (with a modern fit, obviously). Maybe not the most loved gear, but certainly one of the most loved teams in our proud history.
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Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I'd actually play devil's advocate and say that there is a very big difference between teams like Iowa, OSU, Syracuse and - unfortunately, for the moment - Illinois who wear throwback jerseys on occasion and teams who simply have a throwback look ALWAYS. If we simply adopted the script jerseys as our basic set, we would graduate from the first group and into the second one. As an example, this is Iowa's "regular" non-white jersey and then their "throwback" jersey, and they wear both randomly like we do:
This is also unfortunately what we have. A cringe, trend-chasing "modern" font for the defaults, and then a fun throwback (admittedly far inferior to ours, haha) to wear randomly. I think THAT is kind of following the trend and being lame.
I would argue that what Kansas does is the complete opposite. They update their jerseys, of course, but the THEME - while a "throwback" - is just the constant theme. It's only a "throwback" in the sense that it's the font used from several decades ago, but it isn't a gimmick for random games ... it's just their jerseys.
1987
2003
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2024
While I will admit it's a bit of a ret-con, I would like to see Illinois just adopt the scripts as THE jerseys and never go back. Once the trend has worn off, we'll be left standing and it will be our thing (and for good reason, as our script jerseys obliterate the competition!). Then keep the Flyin' Illini jerseys as more of a special throwback since they are so associated with that specific team from 1989.
What I think we should avoid (and I'd argue this is exactly what football just tried to achieve this year) is to be in an endless 5-year cycle of updating our jerseys to whatever lame italic font Nike is obsessed with at the moment. Whether or not "script" is in OR out, it will always just be "Illinois."
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Random question, but how do they decide what uniform to wear every game? As in, what is the voting process or whatever? Does Brad just pick? Does the team captain pick? Do the seniors vote? I cannot imagine they have the entire team voting every game, lol. I have to assume the players choose, given how relatively randomly we switch back and forth (although it does seem clear that "big games" usually lead to us wearing one of the two throwbacks).
Also, come ON, Nike ... how the hell do we not have a white Flyin' Illini or Orange script ready to bust out as an awesome surprise for a huge game like at MSU, at Wisconsin or vs. Purdue this year?! It takes zero creativity and would be a massive hit. I'm doing your job for you!!
Also, come ON, Nike ... how the hell do we not have a white Flyin' Illini or Orange script ready to bust out as an awesome surprise for a huge game like at MSU, at Wisconsin or vs. Purdue this year?! It takes zero creativity and would be a massive hit. I'm doing your job for you!!
Not sure, my guess would be Brad actually with how he has spoken about it. Wouldn't surprise though if it's the captains like our football team does it. Captains right now are Shannon and Hawkins, when Shannon was out it was Hawkins Goode and Guerrier.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, I mean even as a uniform enthusiast I cannot complain at all with letting the players pick, haha. I wish there would at least be SOME safeguards to keep it traditional that the staff imposes as "regulations" of sorts ... I did not like randomly wearing our navy jerseys at home vs. a cupcake earlier this year. That is just switching it up for the hell of it, kind of takes away from the tradition.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
I know that in MLS, each team wears its secondary kit at least once at home during each season. I'm 99.9% sure it is to drive merchandise sales. It wouldn't surprise me if there's something in the Nike contract that says Illinois has to wear each uniform at least once at home.
NCAA rules (at least the last time I read them) simply say that the home team gets the first pick of uniforms, and that the visiting team picks a uniform that will contrast with the home uniform. That game might have been the one where it was decided Illinois would wear the navy to fulfill its obligation (if indeed such an obligation exists).
Does anyone miss our old number font? While it may be a bit dated I always thought it was unique to Illinois and established an identity for ourselves. Much better than our generic modern number font than we have now. Hoping to see an ‘05 updated throwback for the 20th anniversary next season.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
^ Your second photo there actually got me thinking that as far as post-2005, non-throwback jerseys go ... that second set is not bad! So, I wanted to look back at our orange uniforms since 2000 (and I might have missed some!) ... did we seriously switch this much after 2006?!
Pre-2001
2001 to 2006
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2007 to 2008
2009 to 2010
2011
2012 to 2014
Pre-2001
2001 to 2006
2007 to 2008
2009 to 2010
2011
2012 to 2014
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