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twitterREBELS BASKETBALL:
UNLV unveils new hoops uniforms
Players approve of mixture of both old and new from Nike
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 | 5:15 p.m.
Former Syracuse guard Jonny Flynn celebrates during action last season. The Orange were one of the first teams to wear Nike's newest style of hoops uniforms, which features tighter tops and baggier shorts. UNLV will begin wearing the new uniforms this season.
Rene Rougeau lays it in for two last season against Santa Clara. The Rebels will change looks this season, wearing new Nike get-ups which weight 25 percent less than the previous uniforms and have a more retro design to them.
According to the UNLV basketball players, Nike gets a 'mission accomplished' upon completion of the team's new uniforms.
Nike mixed both its newest look — tight, form-fitting tops with long, baggy shorts — with a splash of a simple, retro design, and the finished product was on display Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center, when junior guard Derrick Jasper, senior forward Darris Santee and senior guard Steve Jones modeled off the new duds.
The trio showed off the home whites, the road reds and an alternate gray jersey which will be busted out occasionally.
The pattern involves a very simple design running down the side, which is reminiscent of the UNLV uniforms from the 1980s and early 90s.
"When we first got them, I think a couple of guys did a couple of pushups," Jones joked of the tighter tops. "But I think they like them for the most part.
"I think it's the perfect combination of the new Nike uniforms that are out now, that teams like Arizona and Syracuse have, but it's not futuristic, like the University of Oregon, or anything. It's real solid, simple and classy, kinda emphasizing what coach (Lon Kruger) is."
Nike debuted the new jersey concept during the 2008 NCAA tournament, when Arizona, Florida, Syracuse and Ohio State unveiled the look, and last season, several other schools outfitted by Nike followed suit.
According to Nike, roughly nine inches were taken out of the pattern from UNLV's previous uniforms, and as a result of making the tops more form-fitting, the uniforms are 25 percent lighter in weight than the old uniforms.
Nike's description gets pretty scientific, pointing out that the front is constructed in a fabric called 'sphere,' which is extremely light and keeps uniforms from clinging to a player's body. The back is also lightweight and made of mini-mesh, which is designed to keep players cool along their spine, where they traditionally heat up the most.
But players generally don't care about the science of it, and are more into the look.
Jasper admits that he intentionally requested a jersey top a size or two bigger than what would fit tighter to his body, as he prefers a looser feel.
Not all Rebels shared his sentiment.
"Probably Tre'Von (Willis)," he responded, when asked who filled it out the best. "He got his real tight. He likes to show his muscles off."
Fans can see the 2009-10 squad for the first time at FirstLook 2009 at 9 p.m. Friday at the Mack, with doors opening at 8:15 p.m. The event is free to the public.
UNLV's exhibition opener is on Nov. 10 against Washburn, and the 1990 National Championship team will be honored during a 20th anniversary celebration, while the regular season opener is Nov. 14 against Pittsburg State at 7 p.m.
Ryan Greene can be reached at ryan.greene@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7844.
Discussion: 19 comments so far…
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I like the new uniforms. I hope they where the gray jersey on a consistant basis, since gray is one of our primary team colors. New look for a new era!!
Pimp jerseys, English Prof.......
wear it looks good on them and I want one as soon it comes out...
They look kind of generic...
They're not generic at all RebelAlum44. Last year only a few, traditional powerhouse basketball schools had these form fitting tops.
The question is- did UNLV get included in a small number of schools getting to wear this style or did Nike give these to all of their schools?
Ryan, do you have any idea how many schools got these types of uniforms (and how many in the MWC)? It would be cool to know.
When is Wal-Mart going to start selling them?
UNLV football needs the cutting edge look also. Their current uni's look like something out of a high school home ec class. They need to be somewhere between classic Alabama and futuristic Oregon- not bargain bin chic.
maryland ... they're pretty prevalent now among MWC schools.
As last season progressed, several schools switched to the new tight top/baggy shorts nike unis. Off the top of my head, SDSU, Air Force and New Mexico did.
I, however, think UNLV's look very cool. Not over-complicated, not flashy. I'm a fan of them. Plus, they're not like every other jersey design that Nike puts out. Their design from last year was shared by several Nike schools over the years. This is unique, as simple as it looks.
they look like the old 1's
college cant have alternate throwback jerseys like the nfl right? any chance we see a 20th anniversary addtion
I like the new shorts. The jerseys look pretty much the same, though.
BRING BACK THE BLACK UNIFORMS!!!!!!!
The baggie pant look of the basketball shorts reflects a 'ghetto dress code' and not what should be seen as a classy looking outfit.
This 'ghetto dress code' permeats all of sports today, amateur, collegeiate and professional. Look at the dress of some high paid baseball pros the pants drag over their shoes, etc. Classy looking? definetly not. It does reflect the culture and times we are in. Sadly, it is not a good reflection on us at all.
vsestini = ridiculous
Maybe vestini would like us to go back to basketball uniforms from the 1950s.
back before these "ghetto elements" were allowed to sully the pristine, shiny white game with nice tight, linen shorts.
Oh, darn. There I go violating one of my basic codes of never feeding the troll.
Darn.
The uniforms look very good. Simple, clean, a classic look (ghetto elements included).
Nothing too new about them, but they're still nice. When I found out they were getting new uniforms, I guess I was expecting something drastic.
Love the new uniforms! Hope they keep that new UNLV arch for a long time!
Though gray hardly looks different from the white!