Tucson, AZ - Wildcat men's basketball is about to undergo a change...at least in their uniforms. Arizona joins Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Syracuse, Connecticut, and North Carolina as part of the NIke Hyper Elite Platinum club.
The common thread between all the schools? At least one national championship.
From the Nike press release:
Nike created the uniforms specifically for superior performance and lower environmental impact. The fabric of the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum shorts are made from 100 percent recycled polyester while the jersey fabric is made from at least 96% recycled polyester. Both short and jersey are tailored for the optimal efficiency of movement and are five percent lighter than the previous Nike Hyper Elite uniform. Featuring laser-cut bonded logos, a sharp platinum design as well as prominent accent colors, the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms are sure to shine on the court.
"Nike is committed to producing top-of-the-line performance attire with reduced sacrifice to the environment," said Phil Cook, Nike's Brand Manager for Basketball. "With our Nike Hyper Elite Platinum design, Nike is maintaining its long-standing obligations to our fans to not only produce the best on-court looks but also a design that makes use of the resources we already have."
In 2011, Nike affirmed its commitment to increasing its use of more sustainable materials by doubling its use of recycled polyester, using approximately 440 million PET plastic bottles, enough to cover over 12,000 basketball courts, and 2012 will build off of those successes.
The short includes laser perforations in side panels for increased breathability while featuring a lightweight 4-way stretch woven design. The bonded hem detailing found on the short and the bonded back seam near the neckline on the jersey enhances both comfort and style. Additionally, the front of the jersey features a lightweight Nike Sphere fabric, while the back includes a full Nike Aerographics back panel.
The uniforms will hit the hardwood beginning late-January for some of oldest and strongest rivalries in college basketball. Dates include UConn vs. Notre Dame (1/29), Kentucky vs. Tennessee (1/31), Duke vs. Maryland (2/11), Baylor (women's) vs. Texas A&M (2/11), Florida vs. Tennessee (2/11), Syracuse vs. USF (2/22), Arizona vs. UCLA (2/25), UConn (women's) vs. Notre Dame (2/27) and UNC vs. Maryland (2/29).
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