When you go to North Carolina, a Jordan Brand sponsored school, you have access to some of the hottest footwear in college basketball. But for Tar Heel guard Caleb Love, it’s been all about the Jordan 11’s. His affinity for the basketball shoe took center stage during UNC’s elite eight win over UCLA when he changed from his Jordan 11 Space Jams into the Jordan 11 Patones during halftime after making one basket in the first period. Love exploded after the break – scoring 27 points, including five bombs from behind the arc. It was just one of several impressive performances the St Louis native put on during the post season.
Many took notice of Caleb’s shoes after that game, but those who have been watching him since he got to Chapel Hill know the 11’s have always been his sneaker of choice, but why may be simpler than you think.
“They look good,” Love told me when I asked him. And while many, myself included, may acknowledge the dopeness of the retro Jordan, after wearing the Cool Greys for an entire day while traveling to New Orleans for the Final Four, I realized they aren’t the most comfortable shoe to walk in – let alone hoop for an entire game, but Caleb told me “I feel like they’re comfortable to me on the court when I play.”
There is a break-in process that happens before games to loosen the shoe up.
“Every time I get a new pair I break them in during the practice before the game or shoot around before the game and if they feel good then, I’ll wear those.”
And obviously the Patones have felt the best. Caleb put on another jaw-dropping performance wearing them during UNC’s semifinal win over Duke, which included scoring 28 points and hitting a dagger three that sent the Blue Devils packing.
Deion Sanders famously said, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.” Things are obviously paying off for Caleb Love and this Jordan 11’s.