Whomever decided that Purdue would put the smallest-possible numbers on its basketball jerseys should immediately resign from his or her post. They make Zach Edey look ridiculous.
They make everybody look ridiculous!
If I am not mistaken, the Boilermakers rolled out their new uniforms last season. I’m pretty sure that this is the second year that they have worn them.
Regardless of when the change was made, it was a bad one. People who had not watched them much this year took note during the Second Round of March Madness.
One particular shot of the reigning Naismith Player of the Year was the most jarring. Edey is 7-foot-4. The number 15 on the back of his jersey does not even extend past his shoulder blades. It’s miniscule.
To compare, here is how Purdue’s nameless jerseys looked in March of 2022:
Edey is a massive human being so he makes everything look small, no matter what it is. However, there is a clear different between the two block numbers and the old ones looked so much better.
The decision to modernize some of the most classic uniforms in college basketball was a really bad one.
Nike should not have tried to get creative in the first. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Purdue should not have allowed the rebrand after getting to look at the new kits. The Boilermakers ultimately could have said no. They could have refused to wear them. They could have forced Nike to come back with a larger number.
It is such a minor aesthetic detail that makes such a big difference and I truly cannot believe that it was approved. No other team in the country has a jersey with such tiny numbers and it takes just one look to see something is off!