South Carolina Basketball: Gamecocks featured in Under Armour commercial

Under Armour took the sporting apparel world by storm when it burst on the scene in the early 2000s. The “Protect This House” advertising campaign and commercials were known everywhere. Dallas Cowboys player and former Maryland Terrapin Eric Ogbogu starred in the original commercials, and Baltimore Ravens superstar Ray Lewis even got in on the action. Since then, the apparel brand has gotten into the collegiate sponsorship game, and South Carolina basketball and football have been sponsored by Under Armour since 2007.

On Tuesday, Under Armour dropped a commercial reviving the original slogan. The ad stars numerous basketball personalities, including future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry, WNBA player Kelsey Plum, and the South Carolina women’s basketball team. Specifically for the Gamecocks, Head Coach Dawn Staley and star forward Aliyah Boston feature prominently.

Heading into this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Under Armour-outfitted Gamecocks made a perfect partner for the Maryland-based apparel brand. The most dominant team in the nation heading into one of the most-watched portions of the sports calendar, the Gamecocks will indeed be looking to “Protect This House” during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks’ first-round matchup against Norfolk State and the potential second-round game against either South Florida or Marquette will be held at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

If Under Armour has its way, South Carolina could meet up with Maryland (another Under Armour school and the biggest direct partner with the brand) in the Elite Eight as the Gamecocks and the Terrapins are seeded in the number-1 and number-2 slots in their portion of the bracket. If the two teams were to meet, the game would be played in Greenville, South Carolina. While not exactly in Columbia, the Gamecocks would again have the opportunity to “Protect This House.”

It is unclear if the campaign revival will continue and if the South Carolina basketball team will continue to be involved with it if it does continue. For now, though, Gamecock fans can enjoy their coach and their best player’s performance in the commercial before they enjoy their performances on the court on Friday. South Carolina will take on Norfolk State on Friday after the conclusion of USF and Marquette, likely around 2:00. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN App.