Kentucky Basketball Brings Back the Denim, Honoring a Legendary Past with a Modern Twist
Rupp Arena had a different kind of energy Saturday night, and it wasn't just because Tennessee was in town. The first hint that something special was brewing came about an hour before tipoff, when Malachi Moreno stepped onto the court for warmups.
Then came Andrija Jelavic. Then Braydon Hawthorne.
One after another, Kentucky players emerged from the tunnel - all wearing denim.
Yes, denim.
It wasn’t just a fashion statement. It was a tribute.
A nod to history. A full-circle moment for a program that doesn’t just remember its past - it celebrates it.
This weekend marked the 30th anniversary of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team - the “Untouchables,” as they came to be known - a squad that steamrolled its way through the college basketball landscape and left a legacy as one of the most dominant teams in the sport’s history. And for one night, the Wildcats brought back the look that helped define that era: the denim uniforms.
Back in '96, those denim jerseys were part of a national campaign by Converse, Kentucky’s apparel sponsor at the time. The Cats debuted them in an 88-73 win over Arkansas on Feb. 11, 1996, and while the look raised eyebrows at the time, it’s since become one of the most iconic kits in college basketball history.
Head coach Mark Pope, who was a co-captain on that championship team, acknowledged the initial reaction to the uniforms wasn’t exactly glowing.
“I don’t think people liked them at all,” Pope said with a smile. “I think people were like, ‘What is this?’
But that’s what makes it special. We didn’t fall in love with the team because of the denim.
We fell in love with the denim because of the team.”
That sentiment was on full display Saturday night. Pope, fully leaning into the moment, wore a specially tailored suit for the occasion, paired with custom Nike denim-themed sneakers - a modern twist on a retro vibe. Nike, which took over as Kentucky’s apparel partner in 1997 after Converse filed for bankruptcy, played a big role in the celebration, outfitting the team in updated denim jerseys that paid homage to the originals while adding some present-day flair.
The new uniforms featured the Nike swoosh and an SEC logo on the front - two elements absent from the 1996 version. The Converse logo, which once adorned the shorts, is gone, but the spirit of that era was alive and well. Even UK staffers joined in, donning denim jackets, jeans, and vintage Final Four T-shirts from three decades ago.
And while Braydon Hawthorne and Jayden Quaintance were inactive for the game, they still took part in the denim celebration, rocking custom warmup shirts as they supported their teammates from the sidelines.
The throwback look wasn’t just confined to the court. On Thursday, Kentucky's social media accounts dropped photos of the team practicing in “Nike Book 2 Must Be The Denim” shoes - a denim-themed version of Devin Booker’s signature sneaker. A limited number were available at a pop-up near Rupp Arena on Saturday, and Nike plans to release them to the public next month.
That’s not all. UK retail partners have already started rolling out denim-themed apparel, and fans can expect the 2026-style denim jerseys to hit shelves later this year.
Converse even jumped back into the mix, unveiling a “Kentucky Denim” shoe inspired by the originals worn during the '95-96 title run. That sneaker will first drop at Lexington’s Oneness store on Feb. 28 before hitting the Nike SNKRS app on March 13 - just in time for the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
The current Wildcats have embraced the denim revival with open arms. Players received custom shoes and shirts in the new theme, and the buzz around the locker room has been palpable. Guard Collin Chandler got a sneak peek at the uniforms earlier in the week and couldn’t hide his excitement.
“I’ve never played in denim,” Chandler said, laughing. “I think there’s probably very few people that have.
But I’m excited for it. I’m excited for BBN.
I know it means a lot. There’s a lot of nostalgia to it, especially for Coach, as well.
And so I’m excited.”
It’s not just about the uniforms. It’s about what they represent - the connection between past and present, the pride of a program steeped in tradition, and the memories that still resonate with Big Blue Nation three decades later.
Saturday night wasn’t just a game. It was a celebration - of a team, a legacy, and a look that’s become part of Kentucky basketball’s identity.
Denim, once doubted, now iconic. And for one night at Rupp, it felt like 1996 all over again.