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Over the last decade, Nike Basketball has sponsored approximately 80 percent of men’s and women’s Division 1 Final Four basketball teams. This year, though, the Beaverton-brand pulls off a complete sweep, sponsoring all eight teams heading into this weekend’s games in Houston and Indianapolis.
All teams will wear Nike apparel and footwear, starting with the men in Houston where the University of Oklahoma faces Villanova University followed by Syracuse University taking on University of North Carolina. Then, Sunday’s women’s Final Four in Indianapolis pins University of Connecticut against Oregon State University while Syracuse University and University of Washington face off to close the double-header.
Since 2001, Nike has swept the Final Four 11 times – nine men’s and two women’s. Moreover, Nike schools holistically represented 69 percent of this year’s men’s tournament field and 58 percent of the women’s field, respectively.
Nike’s continued dominance in March will ultimately lead to two more Swoosh schools crowned as national championships. We’ll see who next week.
