Pitt unveils new black and gold alternate uniforms

The Pitt men’s basketball team unveiled new black and gold uniforms on Sunday, describing them as a nod to the city of Pittsburgh and its rich sports heritage. The uniforms feature the same iconic colors as those worn by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers, and the same colors appear on the flag of the city of Pittsburgh.

The uniforms are primarily black with gold trim and gold stripes down the side. The numbers on the front of the jerseys are white, matching the text on the back, and the numbers on the back are gold outlined in white. However, what is uncertain is what the jerseys feature on the chest. Options include the traditional Pitt script logo, the “Panthers” text from the gold uniforms and the panther head logo.

Pitt plans to debut the uniforms during its ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup with former Big East rival Rutgers on Tuesday, and the team is calling on fans to black out the Petersen Events Center for the game.

The black uniforms and the call for a blackout continue a tradition that dates back to the Jamie Dixon days, as Pitt has had black alternates since at least 2015. However, the combination of an unpopular design that muted the Pitt logo and subpar play saw the Pitt blackout go stale during the Kevin Stallings years. But the city-centered approach could breathe new life into the tradition and perhaps broaden Pitt’s appeal at an opportune time.

Pitt and Rutgers are set to tip off from the Petersen Events Center at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The ACC-Big Ten matchup will air before a national audience on ESPNU.