NCAA Basketball uniforms are not the spectacle they are in college football, but players still want to look good. Which schools have the best look?
Look good, play good, right?
Uniforms are not as big of a part of college basketball as they are in college football, but programs – and the apparel companies that sponsor them – want to look as good as possible on the court.
Some teams have nailed their uniforms and have the most iconic looks in the sport (UNC and Duke are two that immediately come to mind). Others have not, but we’re not here to talk them – we’re here to talk about the best of the best.
There are some notable omissions on the list, including Michigan State and Syracuse, but program pedigree doesn’t automatically put a team on this list. It’s all about what looks best.
So, without any further ado, here are the top 25 uniforms in the sport.
25. UCLA’s light blue
A classic look, UCLA makes the list because of the history of the program that is represented by the uniform. Updating the uniform – which UCLA will likely never do – would put the Bruins higher on the list.
24. Indiana’s classics
Much like UCLA, Indiana’s simple uniforms make the list because of what they represent. The Hoosiers do get the nod over the Bruins because of those fabulous candy-cane warm-up pants.
23. Kentucky’s blue
Kentucky does the checkerboard better than SEC rivals Tennessee, but there’s still something that seems a little off about having the design cover the entire side of the uniform. It’s nice but could be better.
22. Virginia Tech’s maroon
The orange and maroon work well together on Virginia Tech’s uniforms and the font, along with the Hokie Stone design on the back, give these a unique touch.
21. Maryland’s black/yellow
Under Armour struggled for years to find a way to incorporate the Maryland state flag into the Terps’ uniforms before settling on their most recent design. It’s subtle, but that flag – easily the coolest state flag (and I say that as a North Carolina native) – adds something special.