Oregon Basketball: Dressed to impress for Final Four
Phil Knight has done it once again.
The Oregon Ducks’ twitter handle, @GoDucks, broke news of the team’s new attire for the Final Four early Thursday morning.
Built to reign. @OregonMBB apple green with wings for the Final Four. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/F3W0U7DqyU
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) March 30, 2017
The Ducks, known for their flashy sense of fashion, will be sporting a color they call apple green, along with bright yellow print. The vibrant hues coordinate well with the smoke wings on the shorts and the primarily black Nike KD 9s.
However, the most intriguing articles of clothing won’t actually be worn during the game.
The Ducks will be showcasing shooting shirts that depict the Oregon mascot as royalty. The Duck is seen wearing a golden crown, while holding up a proud number one. A bold statement made with four teams still left in the field.
The warm-ups also boast an attention-grabbing phrase in gold print on the back.
It’s a gutsy prediction coming from the team itself. Alluding to a Final Four victory and eventual championship? Surprising, considering it’s been 78 years since it last occurred.
It may come off ludicrous at first, but what better slogan could there be? After all, the Ducks are coming off a performance where they shot 51 percent from the field and 45 percent behind the arc against a No. 2 seeded Kansas team. If they keep playing the way they have, “Oregon Rain” could quickly translate into the team’s newfound motto.
It seems as if Nike co-founder Phil Knight is trying to send a message by dressing his alma mater in such polarizing imagery. Is this overwhelming pride or marketing genius from the Nike mogul? Maybe a little bit of both? We may never know.
Either way, Oregon is coming in with a chip on its shoulder, and Dana Altman’s team looks like they’ve got something to prove.
Oregon has only won one championship (1939) in school history. Now the stage is set to face off against the 5-time national champion North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday night. Will the quack attack rise to the occasion and back up the confidence its attire portrays?
One thing is for certain. When the ball is tipped in Glendale, the Ducks better play with the same swagger they come dressed in. Knight and the rest of the Oregon faithful are hoping that the index finger the Duck is displaying will stand for 2017, instead of just 1939 alone.