Kansas basketball to debut ’90s retro uniform against Oklahoma

Kansas basketball sent out an email detailing a new retro jersey that will be worn by the Jayhawks against Oklahoma and available for purchase.

The ’90s circus font jersey is making a comeback this Saturday when Kansas basketball takes on Oklahoma at Allen Fieldhouse. An email was sent out detailing the event, and how the retro jersey could be purchased by fans.

While the initial reaction has been positive, there are a few issues.

First, the jersey costs $80 and can be purchased from Rally House or the KU Bookstore. The price isn’t the problem though, it’s the product. Watch this video featuring Paul Pierce and the jersey.

Nothing seems to be wrong, the jersey looks stunning, fans are ready to buy it, so what the issue? Well, check out the version of the uniform that will be sold to the public.

The for-sale one isn’t even close to the one from the video. Heck, it isn’t even one that was worn on the court. It’s missing the arches on the sides, the crimson and blue pattern by the arms, and it just doesn’t look right.

Look, it’s great that the ’90s era threads are making a comeback. They’re without a doubt a fan favorite, but why not give the fans a chance to actually get the jersey? Not only that, but why advertise a different jersey in the video?

Things get even more interesting when you head over to Rally House’s website, where you can view a real picture of the jersey, which looks different from both the video and the other site previews.

This easily could have been a slam dunk for the athletics department and Adidas, but now, I’m not so sure. When you can pick up a more realistic and appealing jersey for $30-$50 from a third party instead of shelling out $80 for a watered-down version of the original, you may want to rethink your strategy.

At this point, I’m just hoping the uniforms on Saturday aren’t the watered-down version too. The ’90s threads deserve to be brought back in all their glory, not some ill-conceived attempt.