The IU Indianapolis men’s basketball game on Dec. 11 will be a celebration of the city.

IU Indianapolis men's basketball player Corey Boston sports the team's City Edition uniform. Photo provided by IU Indianapolis Athletics Indianapolis City Edition Night will include fun on and off the court, including an Ed Carpenter Racing show car displayed outside the IU Natatorium, a special musical performance, giveaways and one-of-a-kind city-edition uniforms worn by the players.

The uniforms were designed by Lauren Gronke, assistant athletic director for marketing, promotions and fan engagement in the Department of Athletics, with guidance from Adidas and BSN Sports on logistical aspects.

The design features the Indianapolis skyline, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway pagoda, a checkered flag and a racing stripe. As part of the process, Gronke researched the city using resources from University Library Special Collections and Archives, the Indianapolis Public Library and colleagues.

“I wanted to highlight all things Indianapolis in this uniform, from the history and impact of the speedway to the skyline and IU Indy elements,” she said. “Every detail was intentional, with the mindset of the jerseys representing the people of Indianapolis and our student-athletes who are from here.

“People are extremely passionate about where they are from, so my goal was for every possible detail on the uniform to represent the city and our program by making a statement that we are Indy’s downtown team, and ensuring that people from Indianapolis would say that the design was done the right way.”

While Gronke is excited for the debut of the city-edition uniforms and other game-day promotions, she is more excited for the community to watch the men’s basketball team under the direction of head coach Ben Howlett, who is in his first season leading the Jaguars.

“They run a very fast-paced, high-scoring offense called The System and cover all 94 feet of court for the whole game,” she said. “According to the Ken Pom ratings adjusted tempo statistic, we are the fastest team in the country. So with the uniforms on, I like to say that ‘The fastest team in college basketball just got faster!’

“Coach Howlett’s team is so fun to watch and is creating a lot of buzz around our program nationally.”

The Jaguars will play Horizon League rival Green Bay on Indianapolis City Edition Night. The game tips off at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 in Tthe Jungle at the Natatorium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and fans can see the Ed Carpenter Racing show car on University Boulevard outside The Jungle at that time.

Tickets must be purchased online, and all IU Indianapolis athletic events use mobile ticketing.