CHICAGO, March 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The game of college basketball is a game of numbers. For Wilson, the 2012 Final Four Championships will be won for the tenth time with the Wilson NCAA Game Ball.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12019
Since Wilson introduced the first non-leather Tournament game ball in 2003, 585 men's and 576 women's teams have played a combined 1,143 tournament games and more than 45,700 minutes of action-packed basketball. The NCAA has crowned nine men's and nine women's champions collectively over this time, with memorable moments from traditional powerhouses to the stories of Cinderella teams.
Yet one thing has remained constant over the past decade – the game ball. The Wilson NCAA Solution game ball features a moisture-absorbing composite leather cover, composite laid-in channels and Cushion Core Technology®, providing the best game day performance for the NCAA Championships.
"We're proud to be celebrating 10 years as the Official Ball for the NCAA Championships," says Alan Davenport, Global Business Director of Basketball at Wilson Sporting Goods Co. "We've seen so many winning moments with these remarkable student athletes and their coaches, it's a thrill to put the Wilson Game Ball in their hands year after year."
Wilson works to refine its products to create the best performing and most consistent basketball for all student athletes. The company has developed its Wilson Advisory Staff of leading coaches to provide ongoing feedback on ball technology development to ensure consistency, superior grip and overall game ball performance. Top coaches include Pat Summitt (Tennessee), Bill Self (Kansas), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Brenda Frese (Maryland) and Billy Donovan (Florida).
Wilson continues to set the standard for performance both on and off the court. Encouraging youth to get involved in basketball, Wilson and the NCAA support community initiatives in both the Men's and Women's Final Four host cities. On Sunday, April 1, more than 3,000 children will dribble their own Wilson basketballs from the Louisiana Superdome to Bracket Town™ at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as part of the NCAA Final Four Dribble program. At the Women's Final Four, the Mile High Dribble will feature 2,500 kids dribbling their from Civic Center Park to Tourney Town at the Colorado Convention Center.
Fans who can't make it to New Orleans or Denver for the Final Four® can still can be a part of the Tournament fun by creating their own personalized "digital trading cards" with Wilson's new Facebook application. Fans are encouraged to participate and share their cards by uploading their photo, creating a card and sharing with friends. Visit www.Facebook.com/WilsonBasketball for full details.
Learn more at www.wilson.com/basketball
About Wilson
Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a division of Amer Sports, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports equipment. The company designs, manufactures and distributes advanced equipment that helps players improve their performance. Wilson's core categories include Baseball, Football, Basketball, Softball, Bats, Volleyball, Soccer, Youth Sports, Uniforms/Apparel, Golf, Footwear, and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton and Platform Tennis).
The Wilson Sporting Goods logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12020
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
