EVANSVILLE — The sleeves are back.

Well, at least occasionally. The University of Evansville men's basketball program unveiled Wednesday its new throwback jerseys the Purple Aces were synonymous for up until the early 2000s. The sleeves returned for a handful of games since then and as recently as three seasons ago but were lightweight and tight-fitting unlike the uniforms worn for nearly half a century.

UE will don the new sleeves at their home game 1 p.m. Saturday against Jacksonville State.

The program's Twitter account first teased the new throwbacks Monday with a photo of the orange sleeve itself. On Wednesday, it posted a 53-second video led by the famous poem written by Aces’ Hall of Fame member and current radio color analyst Scott Shreffler:

"It's an honor, indeed, to wear the sleeves. An honor that only a select few will achieve.

The sleeves stand for championships, attitude and desire. A tradition that will raise one's standards higher.

The respect they have earned is quite unique. A commitment to excellence that all programs seek.

Hard work, determination, success and pride are characteristics of the sleeves known nationwide."

Saturday's orange uniforms display 'Aces' across the front in cursive lettering similar in script to the 1965 jerseys. It features purple-and-white trim also accentuated along the collar of the neck and at the base of each sleeve. The players' number on the front is off-centered left with the same type of trim.

UE is credited with being the first to adopt the short-sleeved jerseys under Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Arad McCutchan in the late 1940s. Players back then had already been wearing T-shirts during practice due to a cool climate in the gym and decided they would be more comfortable during games as well.

After McCutchan retired in 1977, UE went sleeveless until Jim Crews was hired as coach in 1985.

The Aces continued the tradition through the 2001-02 season when then-athletic director Bill McGillis and former coach Steve Merfeld took a straw poll and concluded that the sleeves restricted mobility and affected recruiting.

This post will be updated.

Follow Courier & Press Evansville insider Pat Hickey on Twitter: @patmhickey.