New Alternate Michigan Basketball Jersey (More Maize)

Cincinnati and Tennessee (also Adidas schools, needless to say) have done the same: charcoal numbers on black jerseys, orange numbers on orange jerseys.

I quote the NCAA rule book:

The number shall be one single solid color that contrasts the neutral zone and may be bordered by no more than a ½-inch border of any color(s).

Numbers that do not contrast the surrounding color of the jersey are a violation; the penalty is a 2-shot technical foul.

I used to score for a local high school and if a team came out in one of these I'd be pissed, and I'd be reminding the game officials of the rule. Referees and scorers shouldn't be struggling to identify players on the court--that's what the numbers are there for in the first place.

The public humiliation of a technical foul assessed on national television for a uniform code violation would do Adidas a world of good.

You really think Dave Brandon sits around approving jerseys?

Dave Brandon has little to NO say at all. He puts forth the requirements and if they meet the requirements this is almost a 100% team and sport supervisor issue.

You people - yes YOU people have no concept of Athletics Administration.

Dave Brandon is busy raising millions of dollars, he and his senior staff don't have time to be worrying about uniforms.

At my university I am the sport supervisor for Volleyball, Field Hockey and Track & Field. The final say on uniforms is with me and the head coach.

Also, just because Adidas is selling this jersey doesn't mean we'll wear it.

They also came out with those ugly neon yellow/green shoes that all Adidas teams got (EMU wore them vs. us)...I don't expect to see us wearing those either.

It's merchandise, get a grip people.

C'mon now, surely a huge company like Adidas would never make the mistake of producing jerseys with unreadable numbers...

All of the teams playing on Christmas in the NBA wore their respective versions of these jerseys, so me thinks you are right.

They should totally take the roof off of Crisler.

I've never understood why basketball needs to be played indoors.  Spent a lot of time playing outside when I was a kid.  Even when it was freezing cold, we'd compete to see who could make the first shot and smash through all the ice on the frozen net.  Difficult to dribble with snow and fingers would nearly freeze too.  It was like Manball, but on a basketball court.