Maize basketball uniforms
I just wanted to see what the board thinks of the use of the maize uniforms in basketball. I think that they are our best-looking jersey and definitely understand the tradition behind them, but to me, they have been over-used this season.
As far as I understand (and I have only been a fan of the basketball team for a relatively short time, so correct me if I'm wrong), the maize jerseys are for "big games" in part because they are usually what the team wears during the NCAA tournaments, whether they are home or away.
This season, though, it seems like nearly every game has been in the maize: both MSU games, OSU, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, all 3 games in Hawaii, etc. I can't think of any home game this season where we have worn the whites (note: I have not watched every game, I'm sure there were plenty of early-season games that we did), but I would like to see them broken out more often. There is no reason to wear the big-game uniforms for a game against Illinois, like we did last weekend. I just feel that when we wear them so often, it diminishes their importance, to the point where maize is our primary and white is the alternate.
Thoughts?
February 16th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
You mean the laser lemon uniforms?
February 16th, 2012 at 1:14 PM ^
Actually discussed this on today's post:
February 16th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
What class did Desmond have in Nichols?. Or was he eating at Noodles? (i keed, i keed)
Keep up the great work Zero!
February 16th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
That's not Nickels Arcade in the top panel. That's North University St.
February 16th, 2012 at 7:29 PM ^
Desmond is walking towards N University meaning he could be departing from Nickels Arcade/Noodles. I am aware that Moe's is located on N University
February 16th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^
The Diag is to his right. It looks to me like he came from there. Maybe he had a class at Angell or NatSci?
February 16th, 2012 at 11:50 PM ^
he definitely came from Ashley's.
kidding, I think Angell is the best guess - if he parked his bicycle out front, then it might make the most sense to ride up State & chuck a right onto North U. I'll pretend he's on his way to Nat Sci, because I love me some biological sciences.
February 16th, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^
Personally I'm a fan of laser lemon. Can we maybe dip them in radioactive material so they really glow?
February 16th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
SInce I can remember watching, I feel like we wear the Maize uniforms much more frequently thant the white unis, no matter the context of the game. I think the Fab 5 made those maize jerseys so popular that wearing them became more commonplace than usual. I might be wrong, but I can picture us in the Maize unis much more than us wearing the whites.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^
wore them for the first time in the home 92 Duke game I believe, but I don't think they wore them again that season (NCAA tourney included). The were very seldom used in the 93 or 94 regular season, Indiana and Iowa State in 93, and Duke and Indiana at home in 94. They wore them in all NCAA games. As much as I lile the maize uniforms, they are wearing them too much. They are wearing them to the point that I think I would like to see them "break out" the whites against Ohio State. While I can understand wearing them with more regularity than the Fab Five did in non-NCAA tourney games, they are wearing them every game right now. It is overkill.
February 16th, 2012 at 3:18 PM ^
They were rarely worn in 1991-92 (just Duke and OSU, I believe), but in the rest of the Fab Five years we wore them all the time, including on the road. It was more often than you mention.
February 16th, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
"YOU" were in the Fab Five???
/s
February 16th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
I like the bright maize uniforms... however, as an aside, they do show how far UM's "maize" has evolved when compared with the actual maize Block M at center court and "MICHIGAN" under the baskets
February 16th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
The block M maize on center court is the correct maize. The uniforms will move towards that color over the next couple years. (as per the AD)
February 16th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Yes
And this would be the perfect place to post a picture of Trey in "maize" bringing the ball up court on the actual maize Block M.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
and less of the "highlighter yellow" in general.
But I agree overall, wear the whites in general, and bring out maize for the big games.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
I am an old man and the maize jerseys hurt my eyes
February 16th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
I personally prefer the blue unis. I'd love to see a 1989 throwback.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
I'll always love the '89 jerseys. That would be something to break out for a big game, I think.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
They busted out some '99 throw backs a few years ago, and they were absolutely fantastic. I wish they'd bring those out more often.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^
My recollection is that the NCAA made a rule change around 1990 that prohibited off-center numbering and we changed the jerseys to comply with that new rule. Missouri, and perhaps others, also had an off-center design that was similarly nixed. I don't know the current status of that rule or (if it still exists) whether a waiver can be obtained for a "thowback" game. Others have indicated that we have used the throwback look recently, but I can't remember such an instance (not saying it didn't happen).
February 16th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
We wore '89 throwbacks three years ago. '99 throwbacks would be these monstrosities:
February 16th, 2012 at 10:01 PM ^
This picture is full of win. I, for one, would rock one of these; I was a fan and student during these lean times. I would also be okay with a Kevin Gaines jersey. I mean, these things...yikes. Nike did it to Carolina that year, too.
February 17th, 2012 at 2:04 AM ^
I loved the shorts from that template. The downside was the fact that it was a generic template being used by a few other schools (the only one that immediately comes to mind is UNC, but there were others).
If anyone is looking for a Josh Moore replica jersey from that era, holler. Pretty sure I still have one.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^
They broke out replica versions of those unis for the game against OSU when they honored the '89 Championship squad. Those were pretty sweet.
It was cool to see all those guys gathered on the same court again. It's too bad we had to lose to those damn Buckeyes.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
Courtesy of Mike DeSimone's page.
Some guy named Zack Novak:
Stuuuuu:
Manny:
Group shot:
February 16th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
You could have made shorts for the whole 1989 team from the material used in a single pair of the "throwback" shorts.
February 16th, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
They look silly long. Some things are better left alone.
February 16th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
is the same now as it was last year. When I think of Michigan basketball, I think of Glenn Rice, #41, blue uniform.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
I don' know why, but I'm not thrilled with our current white uniforms (which have been worn this year, btw.) I also am not a big fan of the socks.
But ya know, maize or white doesn't matter to me nearly as much as playing the game well.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
The maize:
The blue:
The white:
I actually like the blue ones the most. Then the maize, then white. I'm not really a fan of the white ones.
February 16th, 2012 at 2:19 PM ^
the official name for our current yellow. I'm with you on liking the brightness of the yellow. I think that I like it better on the fans because it really jumps out in the stands.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
they've been pretty bright yellow since at least the mid-90s, when i bought my old yellow b-ball shorts. when i get a chance, i'll post a picture of them.
also, back in the day, everyone wanted the WHITE shorts, but they didn't sell them - only maize or blue.
February 16th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
got the whites. Got the entire Ray Jackson uni in white, Jalen in "maize," and Jimmy King in blue. You could only get the white as a replica by Russel Athletic. You can hardly tell the different, It was still authentic with stiched numbers etc., but not the Nike brand. I liked me some Fab Five. (you can make a pretty penny on those on ebay if you are so inclined)
February 16th, 2012 at 2:37 PM ^
Juwan in White, Webber in Blue, and Jalen in maize. The big 3, one in each color. Only wear them at tournament time (which wasnt' much for a number of years). Good for two wearings each for a full run to the final.
February 16th, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
That's cool. By the time I got to campus, only Jimmy King and Ray Jackson were left, and they were gone after my freshman year. Growing up in Georgia, the Fab Five were cool, but I was too busy paying attention to GT and guys like Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott, Brian Oliver (Lethal Weapon 3!), Travis Best, Duane Ferrell, and Jon Barry.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
At this point they're just Michigan's more-or-less regular uniforms, especially (it seems) b/c they can be worn on the road or at home. The whites look boarderline strange to me now, and I think the specialness of the maize unis is gone.
February 16th, 2012 at 8:18 PM ^
but with "boarderline" all I can think of is preppies protesting something. Don't cross the boarderline!!!
February 16th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
Maize uniforms are a competitive advantage. They stand out more on the court making it is easier for the players to see their teammates. I would rather they wear a color consistently, that makes it easier for them to recognize one another, than to keep switching colors for the sake of symbolism.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
You forgot the /s, so I'll add it for you:
/s
February 16th, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
February 16th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
Sadly I can only comment on what it looks like on an HDTV, but they look awesome in that context.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
We should wear the Blue jerseys with Maize shorts with Black shoes. We can look just like the football team with that look.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
Correct me if I'm wrong, but all of those games that you listed were either big games, or nationally televised games. So I would consider the maize jerseys to be appropriate in all of those instances. But putting all of that aside, I love the maize jerseys and I think they look great. I don't think we over-use them at all.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
They AREN'T Maize... they are YELLOW. Michigan historically uses two shades of yellow...
1. The dark maize like you see in the word Michigan, on the court under the basket.
2. The light lemon yellow like you see in the jerseys youre referring to.
....now...as you were....
February 16th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^
necessary for Arkansas-Pine Bluff?
February 16th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^
They wore white for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. See this photo gallery from that game. Maybe you're thinking of the Bradley game, which as I noted below is the only one this season where wearing maize is really questionable.
February 16th, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
I like the "maize" (or whatever color you consider them) no matter who we are playing. In my opinion I think they look badass, and don't think we need to be playing a "big game" to wear the "maize" jerseys. I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of making them our permanent home jerseys.
February 16th, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^
I want to see all TRUE Maize uniforms.... and the SAME color as the "MICHIGAN" script on the endcourts. How cool would that be?
February 16th, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^
IMO we should wear the maize and home...more often than not...
And Blue on the road.
It'll be interesting to see what they wear vs. OSU...I feel like they're superstitous and wear whatever color they're playing the best in.
As soon as we had a bad game in the maize we wore white at home and blue on the road.
With that said, I think the maize at home contrasts very well with the red of Ohio or the green of state? I hope we don't wear white just because we wore the maize in Columbus and didn't play well, but I could see it happening. We should've wore blue on the road vs. them anyway, it looks better against their home grey uni's than the maize did.