Nike Reveals New Hyper Elite Platinum Uniforms

Brian Barbour on January 25th, 2012 |

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Swag.
Nike has released images of the new Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms which nine college basketball teams, including UNC and Duke will wear during one game this season(against all non-Nike schools apparently.) UNC will don their version of the uniform in a home game vs Maryland on February 29th.

Obviously there will be some negative fan response to this, especially after UNC wore the silver jerseys in 2010 to celebrate the Jordan Brand’s 25 anniversary. I will say I don’t hate these as much as I did at first blush. The back of the jersey in particular with the stars representing NCAA titles and big interlocking NC is nice. It also should be noted that players love this sort of stuff. Kendall Marshall was asked about it today and new, snazzy uniforms excite the players. I guess my cross country coach at UNCG was right, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you run good.”

In the end, as long as UNC wins the game while wearing these, fans will complain about them less. Not that the uniform matters but 2010 was so scarring, none of us ever want to see those silver uniforms ever again.

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makeitWayne22

January 25, 2012 at 5:17 pm

More throw backs less new…

I remember the 2005 season, UNC played Virgina and wore throwbacks from the ’82 season, those were the nice unis.

I do like the shorts thou, ill be buying those….

AZACCFan

January 25, 2012 at 5:19 pm

This just shows again how commercialized college sports have become.

Listening to Marshall at the news conference this afternoon, it is clear that he is very aware of who is wearing what and which teams are sponsored by whom. He made a comment about an Adidas T Shirt he was wearing at the Press Conference.

Money from this sort of stuff should at least go to a player fund for injury rehab or scholarships or something. But it will largely go th the aggrandizement of Nike.

JPinFL

January 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm

For what it’s worth, I don’t mind the design so much, but for a home game I wish they were white instead of gray.

However, my biggest complaint/disappointment is that these are going to be worn on Senior Night, which to me is all about putting the focus on the seniors (and perhaps even unofficially on the others who might be playing their last game at the Smith Center). I think debuting these uniforms on that night in particular is unfortunate, and wish it were a different game. Does Carolina play any other non-Nike schools at home other than Maryland? I don’t keep up with such things.

GAtoVAHeel

January 25, 2012 at 5:58 pm

1. I’m not a huge fan of this uniform, but it’s not too bad. I wish Carolina blue were more prominent (we’re allowing Nike to substitute their brand for ours). I like the stars for championships, and the interlocking NC on the “sweatback” is less muddled than the pattern on the regular jerseys.

2. Agree with AZACCFan that this is a prime example of the commercialization of college sports. If Nike were REALLY interested in celebrating the school, we’d have a design that’s specific to us. Nine schools with an essentially identical design is “celebrating” Nike more than the schools.

3. I didn’t realize that this uniform would be worn on senior night until JP mentioned it. That stinks. The seniors ought to be playing their final home game in the traditional uniform. Besides the Twerps, the only remaining home games we have against non-Nike schools are tomorrow against State and Sunday against Ga. Teck. I guess those two games were too soon for Nike to put on the full marketing blitz. More likely, Nike wants to show up Maryland/UnderArmour. I wonder if UnderArmour will take up the challenge and break out something special for Maryland for that game?

faustus1500

January 25, 2012 at 6:03 pm

I saw this earlier…..Ackkk!

C. Michael

January 25, 2012 at 6:18 pm

If the players like them, that’s all that matters (especially if you consider recruiting implications, it does make a difference).

That being said, as much as I like UNC’s more traditional uniforms, I do like these a lot, too. And I think the color scheme would look terrific on football unis.

January 25, 2012 at 6:30 pm

If Carolina wins the title, I will probably forget about these grey unis. It would be so much better if Nike focused more on the team’s colors instead of going with the grey/platinum.

ZeroNine

January 25, 2012 at 6:40 pm

Playing in these for one game is not nearly as bad as playing with the graphics on the back for the entire season.

Heel To The End

January 25, 2012 at 7:56 pm

if these are a line thats to be sold to the public, then my favorite part is that the whole ensemble, shirt, shorts, jacket, probably costs $25 to manufacture.
and will sell for $200.

appheel90

January 25, 2012 at 8:31 pm

Ugh, those are ugly. I was hoping it would be an away game that they would wear these sacrilegious things, but no, I get to see these ugly things up close and in person.

52bgJ

January 25, 2012 at 8:33 pm

Some Timeberland boots and a grape blunt

MCHeelFan

January 25, 2012 at 8:42 pm

The uniform is pretty tough looking. A nice change…but who threw the design for the jacket together??? Straight out of the seventies! Except for the colors, it doesn’t even go with the uniform.

samheel

January 25, 2012 at 9:17 pm

Anyone seen the show “Monk”? My biggest problem is that the 93 comes after the 05 in the starred section of the jersey. Was that on purpose? If the guy in front on my is wearing one I am sure he would not appreciate me editing his new jersey chronologically. Can you see me chasing down every member of the team to fix them? Yeah, I better stay away from the Dome that game.

wpe022

January 25, 2012 at 10:31 pm

It might be ok to screw around with the football uniforms, but I’m a traditionalist when it comes to basketball. The last thing I want to do, is to look like Oregon or Maryland. Gray is such a depressing look. Our home and away uniforms have always been considered the best looking in all of college sports. Would the Yankees change the pinstripes?

Tar Heel Fan

January 25, 2012 at 10:38 pm

^And that’s the odd thing. Everyone wants them to do something different with the football uniforms. There is a pewter helmet people have seen. There is also a white helmet with a Carolina blue NC on it. There are Nike combat pro uniforms like the ones Oregon wears. UNC football is at a point where changing the uniform up might not be such a bad idea yet they don’t.

However in basketball this will be the sixth different kind of jersey UNC has worn since 2009. Regular home and way, 1957 throwbacks, silver jersey, Carrier Classic jersey and this one. All of this despite the fact people are far more inflexible about the brand than football.

plibt

January 25, 2012 at 11:39 pm

the 57 throwbacks were SO tight

BeachHeel

January 25, 2012 at 11:43 pm

What’s with the gray? They would look a lot better white with a bit more carolina blue.

January 26, 2012 at 12:16 am

Seeing UNC in gray makes me half expect the Heels to come out playing with walkers for John Thompson III.

deepenwide

January 26, 2012 at 3:40 am

uuugh. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it…

BoyWilliams

January 26, 2012 at 4:56 am

Ha ha — In the graphic with the invisible person inside the #40 uniform…Is Nike trying to make a statement about Barnes’ tendency to disappear during the 1st half of the season?…Very funny guys.

The White Ghost

January 26, 2012 at 8:45 am

Don’t care for the look. Just old fashion here… give me blue & white. GO HEELS!

marcus62660

January 26, 2012 at 8:52 am

Hideous.

chapelhillfan

January 26, 2012 at 9:02 am

OK, first the two good things: I like the references to the championships. National soccer teams do this and that’s where Nike got it from. I really really like bringing back to the Tar Heel foot on the side. This ABSOLUTELY must be incorporated back into the regular uniform.

Now, otherwise, these uniforms are awful.

And, let’s get one fallacy out of the way that I hear way too much. The “only thing that matters” is not that the players love them. Yes, we should care if the players approve. But, Alabama football for example, as had uniforms unchanged for decades and they still get plenty of players to come play for them. I’d venture to say that any recruit who makes his decision on a college based on a new uniform design probably lacks the other more important qualities we need in a player.

January 26, 2012 at 9:03 am

Off the subject but I have to share this gem that I heard this morning among my Wolfpack co-workers…

“…I heard they were missing one of their best players, McDonald or something like that.”

Their ignorance has no boundaries.

January 26, 2012 at 9:17 am

“I’d venture to say that any recruit who makes his decision on a college based on a new uniform design probably lacks the other more important qualities we need in a player.”

“We definitely get excited about it. I think players care about the way they look. I know if I played football, Oregon would be in my top five no matter who I was.” – Kendall Marshall

January 26, 2012 at 9:35 am

Getting free Jordan stuff, can play a huge role in recruiting as well….

January 26, 2012 at 12:09 pm

I figured someone would respond with that kind of quote C.Michael, but I stand by what I wrote.