If you’ve been watching the NCAA Tournament over the past few days, you may have noticed that the basketball looks a tad different in both the Men’s and Women’s Tournaments this year. The ball looks a little more orange.
It’s one of those subtle things that for many people, they might not notice it right away but once somebody points it out, it’s all they can look at. Apologies in advance if this was you.
The reason why this basketball is a brighter shade of orange is because it’s a different ball. Wilson introduced the Evo NXT this year to replace the Evolution and is the official ball for the NCAA Tournament. While they did a lot of research to make the ideal basketball, the Evo NXT looks like a ball that has never been used and then glazed with some sort of bright orange paint. Nevertheless, it’s a basketball and making shots with that ball is the name of the game so that hasn’t changed a bit.
Many shared their views and observations, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, whose criticism got to the director of sales from Wilson.
I can guarantee you these aren’t $5.99 basketballs. We took the best technologies from the previous NCAA game balls, the best technologies from the Evolution basketball (the number one game ball in the world) and created the new ball that you see being used this year.
— Dave White (@DaveWhite1223) March 16, 2022
It's the ball. The ball sucks. It's too orange. We need a new ball.
— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) March 18, 2022
Xavier Johnson on the NCAA Tournament’s new, orange ball that a bunch of people tweeted about: “It feels like a rubber ball … It has different English coming off the glass.” Said he had one of his worst games in Crossroads Classic with that ball. @CodyZeller #iubb
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) March 16, 2022
I hope the basketballs keep getting more Orange. Next year, I hope the ball burns my eyes out.
— Chaps (@UncleChaps) March 17, 2022
Did they make the ball more Orange? The ball feels like it’s more Orange and it’s messing up the Overs
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) March 8, 2022
I like the bright orange ball btw.
— Sweep The Leg (@SweepTheLeg337) March 18, 2022
Have all the games had the super orange ball? Because I see it in the Iowa game and I don’t like it one bit
— Clem (@TheClemReport) March 17, 2022
Why is the NCAA basketball so orange this year? Looks like a plastic outdoor ball on TV
— Carter Kemp (@carterkemp) March 18, 2022
The ball in this year’s NCAA Tournament looks extra orange.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) March 18, 2022
