Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It’s actually quite frustrating and surprising, but they’ve NEVER used it! There is a separate (and not very similar) cursive font they’ve used for “Illini,” but it looks terrible.
Illini Basketball Uniforms
I’m hoping there is a new uniform reveal coming soon. Other Nike schools like K-State and Florida State have been dropping their reveals, so surely we’d be close right? I feel like we’re on a similar timeline to them in terms of a new uniform schedule.
Yesterdays photo shoot in the same unis as last year is a bad sign…
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
Ugh. Where’s the dislike button??? Hey, Josh, Illinois Basketball NEEDS new uniforms!!!
Here's a video from content day to confirm no changes
And re: K-State's new uni ... omg I feel bad for Coleman. They're very similar to us, in that their regular Nike unis are lackluster ... but they have a great throwback uni, and an amazing set of script unis. This refresh of their regular unis was a wasted opportunity. Hope for Coleman's sake that they still wear the scripts and throwbacks in a lot of games.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
We don’t need new unis. We just need to make the script and fighting illini unis permanent.
I agree, K-State’s new uniforms just look cheap and lazy to me. I somewhat like the concept but I feel like it took them like 5 minutes to design them.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
So I have heard that Josh might be frustrated with the recent state of the relationship with Nike. My speculation is that I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of priority we are shown may have something to do with that. There is still plenty of time to repair things, but for the first time I wouldn't be stunned if we made a move to another uniform provider when the contract is up in a couple of years.
I’m really surprised the lack of priority our basketball team gets. We’ve been a successful team and have been loyal to Nike my whole life. I’ve been really disappointed with Nike in general. Seems like they’ve gotten lazy as of late, especially with football uniforms. However, it’d be weird to see them in anything other than Nike.
Yeah it seems pretty obvious we are getting Nike's 'C' or 'D' squad here.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
This is the classic case of "well, where could we go that's a lot better?"
I'm no fan of Adidas uniforms. Under Armour has had a lot of issues as of late. I don't think New Balance or Puma are even in the college sports scene. I 100% agree that the lack of attention for basketball is really surprising, but of course we all know football runs the college sports landscape. It might be a case where if Illinois can be consistently even good (7-8 wins on average), then the strength of the basketball program might be an extra factor for Nike paying more attention.
Big Jack
- Decatur
Ok just going to throw this idea out there for someone with graphics skills.. We need bright orange uni's plain orange with no stripes lines etc.. solid orange. Add the Fighting Illini in script imprinted diagonally on the front with the jersey number located above the lower left hip.. Name and jersey number on the back normal
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I agree that imagining Illinois playing in anything other than Nike uniforms just seems unfathomable. I also think that Nike carries a bit of cachet that can go a long way in recruiting that the other brands just don't have. I also agree that Under Armour is not a likely partner, as they have reduced their college footprint, and probably won't value us with Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Northwestern also being UA schools in our area. But I do think Adidas has turned a corner in the past couple years. Their uniform design has definitely improved, and I think they've done a great job for schools like Nebraska, Miami, Washington, Arizona State, and, arguably, Kansas. I have always been the #1 Nike defender here, and part of me still hopes that they see the value in our brand and that we stay with them. But I could also see them making the decision to move to Adidas if Adidas can: 1) pay more money that Nike (which I don't even think we get that much money from them, but rather mainly free clothes and equipment), which Adidas has outspent Nike in the past, and which could be a bigger priority given our need to "find" $21M for revenue sharing with the athletes; and 2) make us a relative priority compared to how we are viewed at Nike, which probably wouldn't be a hard bar to overcome.
My prediction is that if Nike steps it up with us, we will stay with them. But if they don't, and we don't think it will significantly hurt our basketball recruiting brand, which it probably wouldn't, I think we may actually move on.
Yep. Careful what you wish for here.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Like Winston Churchill said about democracy, Nike is the worst uniform supplier ever devised, except for all the other ones.
Honestly feel like footwear comfort is probably the biggest things.Answer is easy, still Nike overall but it's time we go Jordan Brand. I thinkhas emerged as the undisputed leader in the college uni game. As a separate division, perhaps could resolve JW's concerns and offer the best of both worlds.
I always thought Jordan Brand stuff felt heavy. Under armour makes garbage cleats. Nike and Adidas were my two favorite and it wasn't especially close.
Would love some Illini Jordans.Answer is easy, still Nike overall but it's time we go Jordan Brand. I thinkhas emerged as the undisputed leader in the college uni game. As a separate division, perhaps could resolve JW's concerns and offer the best of both worlds.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
We literally don’t need hardly any attention or “prioritizing” from Nike, though … we need a half-capable intern to give his/her boss a navy/orange/white mockup of our two throwback jerseys (Script and Flyin’ Illini).
Wanting anything else is almost just being pointlessly contrarian at this point, haha. We have the two best jerseys in college basketball; we just unfortunately mix and match them with three of the worst.
Wanting anything else is almost just being pointlessly contrarian at this point, haha. We have the two best jerseys in college basketball; we just unfortunately mix and match them with three of the worst.
Lol you're right. It's legitimately that easy.
Just make blue and orange versions of the white script jerseys. Then pair it with the blue and white versions of the flyin Illini throwbacks. Gives you two blue, two white, and one orange jersey.
Just look at what the script helmets are doing for the football team.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
Sometimes, people just make things too complicated.
If I were doing this, here’s the primary/lettering/trim combinations I’d use for a six-uniform set of three script uniforms and three Flying Illini uniforms.
Script (all would have a white diamond with orange block I on the shorts for consistency)
White/blue/orange (current)
Blue/white/orange (you’ll see why in a moment)
Orange/blue/white (the template in that one uniform in the Illini sports museum)
Flying Illini uniforms
White/blue/orange (1989 template)
Blue/orange/white (early 1980s template, which I always liked better than the 1989 blue and white version)
Orange/white/blue (1989/2005 throwback template)
You get just enough variety with the letter/trim changes on the orange and blue versions, while the blue lettering with the white provides a consistent look for both home uniforms.
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Mizzou is going to a full set of throwbacks as their unis this year.
We should do similar with our Fighting Illini throwbacks in white, orange, and blue versions, with the script white alternates.
We should do similar with our Fighting Illini throwbacks in white, orange, and blue versions, with the script white alternates.
What’s crazy is that, 30 years from now, there will be Illini fans saying “cool! They’re doing the 1LL1NO1S uniforms as throwbacks!”