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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish just snapped their four game losing streak last night with a 88-81 win over Wake Forest. Sure you can chalk the win up to a better shooting performance, stronger defense or Bonzie Colson’s monster game, but there is another unlikely factor that must be taken into account — the UNIFORMS. Yep, that’s right the uniforms played a factor.
Just did a little digging for all of you. Since the start of the 2014/15 season #ndmbb is 17-5 when they wear the gold unis.
— Bobby Norell (@RENorell_III) February 8, 2017
The Irish broke out their mustard yellow gold uniforms for the first time all season on Tuesday night and they came away with a victory. With a tough matchup with Florida State looming on Saturday, it was pretty much a must win for the Irish and they delivered. Over the last two seasons, Notre Dame has worn the gold unis in big time, must win type of games, so it’s no surprise they donned them for Wake Forest.
In fact, I did a little digging for you guys and since the start of the 2014-15 season (the year ND switched to Under Armour) Notre Dame has worn the gold uniforms 22 times. In those 22 games the Irish are 17-5 (.772 winning percentage). Their record in the other unis (white/blue/green) is still pretty good at 57-21, but when the Irish break out the gold unis they seem to play at a different level.
ND’s Record in the Gold Unis
| Year | W | L |
|---|---|---|
| Year | W | L |
| 2014/15 | Wins | Losses |
| Michigan State | 79-78 | |
| Florida State | 86-63 | |
| Purdue | 94-63 | |
| Virginia | - | 62-56 |
| Duke (ACC Tour) | 76-64 | - |
| UNC (ACC Tour) | 90-82 | - |
| Northeastern (NCAA) | 69-65 | - |
| Butler (NCAA) | 67-64 | - |
| Wichita State (NCAA) | 81-70 | - |
| Kentucky (NCAA) | - | 68-66 |
| 2015/16 | Wins | Losses |
| Youngstown State | 87-78 | - |
| @Duke | 95-91 | - |
| Virginia Tech | 83-81 | - |
| Boston College | 76-49 | - |
| @Syracuse | - | 81-66 |
| @Clemson | 89-83 | - |
| Louisville | 71-66 | - |
| @Georgia Tech | - | 63-62 |
| NC State | 89-75 | - |
| Duke (ACC Tour) | 84-79 | - |
| UNC (ACC Tour) | - | 78-47 |
| 2016/17 | Wins | Losses |
| Wake Forest | 88-81 | - |
Some of Notre Dame’s biggest wins over the last two seasons have came in the golds. In 2015 the Irish won their first conference title of any kind wearing the gold unis. In that same season the Irish advanced to their first Elite Eight since 1979 with a Sweet Sixteen win over Wichita State in the gold unis. Last year the Irish won their first game at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the gold unis. They also knocked off No.1 North Carolina in the golds.
What I’m getting at is that the Irish need to ride the power of the gold uniforms for the reason of this season. They need to pick up the play down the stretch and wearing the golds could give the Irish a little extra umph.
Surprisingly the gold uniforms might be my least favorite set of unis. The combination of the mustard yellow gold and the green just doesn’t please my eyes. But I love to win more than anything and if the Irish play well in them, they should wear them for every game if they have to.