KSR's Kentucky Basketball Uniform Madness (Elite Eight)
Kentucky basketball season is over and the offseason has begun. Draft, transfer and recruiting news is rolling out by the day, starting with the return of Daimion Collins and the departure of Dontaie Allen. Also tucked into the busy news period? New uniforms, specifically uniforms that will not include checkerboards for the first time since 2016.
It’s a breath of fresh air for a program that desperately needs it after zero NCAA Tournament wins since 2019. In-game strategy and roster construction can and will be discussed until everyone is blue in the face, but a new look for the Wildcats isn’t a bad place to start. That’s coming next season.
What will the fancy new uniforms look like? That remains up in the air, as there is no timeline for an official announcement or roll out from the school. In case the design team is looking for a starting point (or to use outright, preferably), though, two of the best graphic designers in the Commonwealth put together some mock-ups for inspiration. Brandon Owen (@75toRupp) and Jo Jo Stephens (@MrJoJoStephens) cooked up some absolute masterpieces to celebrate the fresh start.
Now is where Big Blue Nation comes in. With so many options to choose from, it’s up to the fanbase to pick the favorites and declare a uniform champion. Just like March Madness, the uniforms have been seeded and spread across a bracket. There were 16 uniforms to start with between the two graphic designers, eight apiece in their own regions. After one round, we are now down to eight total combos, with fans selecting their favorite uniform in each matchup. One round a day throughout the weekend.
The Sweet 16 took place on Friday, followed by the Elite Eight on Saturday, Final Four on Sunday and championship on Monday. Voting for the second round will end at noon ET on Sunday on Twitter, with winners announced and updated polls posted immediately afterward.
Who knows, maybe UK Athletics will take a note or two?
@75toRupp Region
No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed
It’s a clean white look vs. a clean black look in the matchup between No. 1 and No. 4. Both Jordan Brand, the white has a Joe B. Hall decal on the right shoulder with blue letters and numbers and white stripes down the sides. The black has blue letters and white numbers with blue stripes down the sides.
Submit your vote below:
No. 2 seed vs. No. 6 seed
In a battle of the blues, it’s a throwback concept vs. a modern look. The classic has thick stripes on the neck, arms and sides with eight stars to represent the program’s eight national championships. The modern has thin stripes with a small checkerboard on the sides and a Joe B. Hall decal on the right shoulder.
Submit your vote below:
@mrjojostephens Region
No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed
Same style, different color in the No. 1 vs. No. 4 battle on this side of the bracket. Fans must choose either blue or white. It’s a rounded look with curved letters and stars wrapped around the centered number. Eight stars to represent the program’s eight national championships.
Submit your vote below:
No. 2 seed vs. No. 6 seed
To close out the Elite Eight, it’s a battle of alternate jerseys, one black (No. 2) and one grey (No. 6). The black has blue pinstripes with bold blue letters and numbers. The grey has white letters and numbers with a blue border.
Submit your vote below:
Miss the first round of uniforms? You can find the previous matchups here.
Updated Uniform Madness Bracket
What do you think, BBN? Any personal favorites jump out? Make sure to vote and provide feedback in the comments.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard