NCAA Tournament play-in games sneaker watch

Making the NCAA Basketball Tournament is a goal every team sets at the beginning of the year. A loss means the end of the road. Teams have 40 minutes to leave it all on the court. At this stage a key element between the player and the court might go unnoticed. Their shoes.

We were at play-in game practice to see the players and their kicks. Some of these players dug deep in their closets for kicks that did not disappoint!

Rich Williams, of Manhattan. (Elliott Miller)

Rich Williams, of Manhattan, in the Under Armour Stephen Curry 1. A perk of being an Under Armour school is getting color ways before they're released. This away camo color way isn't set to be released until the beginning of April.

Frank Bartley, of BYU. (Elliott Miller)

Frank Bartley, of BYU, in the LeBron Zoom Soldier VII. The Zoom Soldier VII and VIII are a staple college basketball shoe and a staple shoe at BYU too.

Lawrence Roderick, of Ole Miss. (Elliott Miller)

Stefan Moody, of Ole Miss. (Elliott Miller)

Stefan Moody, of Ole Miss, has ice in his blood (Starts at 1:07) and FIRE ON HIS FEET! The Jordan 11 is quite possibly the hottest basketball shoe ever. Michael Jordan debuted the Jordan 11 in 1995, when the Bulls won 72 games. Hopefully something like this doesn't happen when Ole Miss plays BYU. Moody took a page out of Roderick's book and saved his best kicks for last too. These have probably been sitting in Moody's closet for a while, since these haven't been released since mid 2012.

Terence Smith, of Ole Miss. (Elliott Miller)

Another Ole Miss player with fresh kicks. Terence Smith sported the Kobe 9 Elite in the Black History Month color way. Portions of the proceeds from Nike's Black History Month collection went toward the Ever Higher Fund. 

Jarvis Summers, of Ole Miss. (Elliott Miller)

Like Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving's first signature shoe was released this NBA season. Introducing Jarvis Summers, from Ole Miss, in the Kyrie 1 Dream color way.

Terry Brutus, of Ole Miss. (Elliott Miller)

Ole Miss is just KILLIN' the kick game here! This Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low is a NikeID color way. The Kobe 9 has notches on the back that look similar to the scutcher marks Kobe Bryant has from his Achilles tendon surgery. 

M.J. Rhett, of Ole Miss. (Elliott Miller)

Legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield  was behind the design of the Jordan 13 that M.J. Rhett, from Ole Miss, is wearing. Michael Jordan laced up the 13s during the 1997–1998 season in Chicago. This Grey Toe color way dropped in November of 2014. The Black Panther was the inspiration for the 13 with cat-like pads and a hologram like a cats eye. Denzel Washington wore the shoe in the film 'He Got Game.' 

Ole Miss assistant. (Elliott Miller)

The Nike KD VI Elite Hero has all the bells and whistles. Visible Nike Zoom in the sole, Flywire technology is all reinforced with Kevlar cables. This all helps Kevin Durant do his thing on the court. Hopefully it won't help this unknown Ole Miss assistant coach. 

Ole Miss assistant. (Elliott Miller)

Another Ole Miss assistant killing it in the Nike Air Max 1. Probably one of the cleanest shoes to ever come forward. Ever wonder how Nike gets the air for the Air Max?

Ryan Andrus, of BYU. (Elliott Miller)

Ryan Andrus, from BYU, has beat his 2014 Hyperdunks to the ground. Look how he snapped the Flywire!

Floor sweeper. (Elliott Miller)

SHUT IT DOWN, PEOPLE! The shoe game here in Dayton, Ohio, is just straight fire, including this unnamed broom boy with the Jordan Future.

 

Quinton Chievous, from Hampton. (Elliott Miller)

While I was watching practice, Greg Wrubell asked me, 'What are those?' Those are the Jordan 20. Released 10 years ago, it's probably one of the most distinct Jordan shoes. This Laser color way worn by Quinton Chievous, from Hampton, was released last month. The details on the shoe represent memories that mattered most to Michael Jordan from his career.