Nike's swoosh now "appears more prominently" on the Wichita State men’s basketball team’s uniforms and shoes as part of a new apparel agreement, which moved the team from Jordan Brand to Nike Elite, according to Jerry Siebenmark of the WICHITA EAGLE. The five-year deal was "negotiated after the team made it all the way to the Final Four" of the '13 NCAA tournament. WSU Associate AD/Marketing & Strategic Communications John Brewer said that the agreement is "an improved version of a previous Nike deal." He added, "It absolutely is budgetary relief for us." Experts said that WSU could cut "even sweeter" deals this year if the men's basketball team "repeats or comes close to repeating its NCAA Tournament success." This year's team has already finished its regular season with an undefeated record of 31-0. Brewer said that the new agreement "was negotiated last summer between Nike and WSU men’s basketball coach Gregg Marshall and his agent." He added that the deal "includes a certain number of uniforms and shoes for each of the athletes, as well as sideline apparel for the coaches, and other provisions for instances when a player’s uniform has to be completely replaced." Brewer also noted that the men's basketball team "had an agreement with Nike’s Jordan brand, the logo of which is different from the Nike swoosh" since before he arrived at WSU nearly four years ago. However, he said that the team's success last year "changed the arrangement with Nike." Brewer: "They became part of the Nike Elite team," which is "a little more exclusive" than their previous agreement with Nike. Brewer added, "I think it’s fair to say that’s a benefit of, or maybe the result of, a Final Four appearance." He noted that WSU's other teams "have apparel deals, but they are done on an individual basis" (WICHITA EAGLE, 3/2).
