Nike, Univ. Of Kentucky Unveil New Men's Basketball Uniforms

Nike Unveils New Univ. Of Kentucky Men's Basketball Uniforms

Nike and the Univ. of Kentucky (UK) Friday unveiled the men's basketball team's new uniforms for the '08-09 season, which pay tribute to both the program's history and the state's horse racing tradition. The new jerseys each feature elements of a royal blue and white checkerboard pattern that were inspired in part by jockey silks. The home white uniforms have a blue and white checkerboard swatch on the shorts' waistband with boxes that include the years of each UK national championship (Nike). Nike Global Creative Dir Tracy Teague said of the new and unique design, "We're looking to do a much higher degree of storytelling than we've done in the past. The added touch moves us past being an equipment supplier." Teague said that the design is a "way to strengthen Nike's relationships with its school partners and help them define their identity through uniforms." Teague: "Uniforms are one way we're looking at college basketball to help drive our team business. We see a much bigger opportunity to partner with universities and do something much more unique. The uniform is a great vehicle to do that, to capture the spirit of the school" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/13 issue).

PAYING TRIBUTE: In Kentucky, Jerry Tipton reported the "K" in Kentucky on the jerseys "will be white with a black border on the home uniform and black with a white border on the road uniform" to honor late UK equipment manager Bill Keightley. A black bar on the right shoulder will also honor Keightley by bearing his nickname, Mr. Wildcat (Lexington HERALD-LEADER, 10/11).