Kentucky's '93 throwbacks are awesome. Keep it going!
Until Kentucky Basketball introduced new uniforms before the season, the team’s look had grown stale with those hideous checkerboards that many people disliked from the beginning, including De’Aaron Fox when he wore them in 2016. Even if you liked the checkers–I’m talking to both of you–six years was a long time not to try something new, especially at one of Nike’s premier schools and with the emphasis on fashion around the game these days.
But then last summer, Nike and UK Athletics answered fans’ prayers when new home uniforms were revealed a month before Big Blue Madness; a classic white with blue trim and arched, vintage lettering. The blue/away jerseys were introduced weeks later to ignite preseason excitement further.
Then ten games into the season, a surprise black alternate version made its debut in Kentucky’s home game versus Florida A&M.
All three are significant upgrades and in my unexpert opinion, awesome. Great job, everybody. Those jerseys are probably flying off Kentucky Branded and bookstore shelves.
But then came the ’93 throwbacks in the Louisville game and we need, more, more, more!
Now a look Kentucky has worn twice (back-to-back wins, I’ll add), the team is having fun again while paying homage to Kentucky’s 1993 team that won 11 straight SEC games and reached the Final Four.
All that’s missing is the snap-button warmup.
This Saturday, Kentucky travels to Tuscaloosa for a huge opportunity against seventh-ranked Alabama on ESPN. Is it too late to find some ’93 road blues and ride this 30-year anniversary wave a little longer?
And now that Kentucky finally experimented with retro, what else is in the closet for the future? Next year is 30 years since the Apex One icicles. Got any of these ’94 Tony Delk specials in the trunk?
Whatever is next (hopefully it’s a lot more retro, maybe even denim), the decision-makers and designers behind Kentucky Basketball’s 2022-23 wardrobe get an A+ from KSR’s fashion department, and from many of the fans throughout Big Blue Nation. I hope UK continues to mix it up because, as Deion said, if you look good, you feel good, if you feel good, you play good.
Now give us the denim!
By The Numbers: 2022-23 Kentucky wearing ’93
Some stats I dug up in support of the ’93 throwbacks:
| ’93 Throwbacks | Regular Home/Away/Alternate | ||
| WIN PERCENTAGE | 100% | WIN PERCENTAGE | 66.7% |
| WINS OVER LOUISVILLE | 1 | WINS OVER LOUISVILLE | 0 |
| SEC WINS | 1 | SEC WINS | 0 |
| JACOB TOPPIN PPG | 22.5 | JACOB TOPPIN PPG | 9.7 |
| SAHVIR WHEELER 3FG% | 50% | SAHVIR WHEELER 3FG% | 39.6% |
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