KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 will transition again to a standard hardwood court for the rest of its convention match at T-Mobile Center after the modern LED glass court it was utilizing LEDs to some slipping and grip points for gamers.
“After consultation with the coaches of our four Semifinal teams, I have decided that in order to provide our student-athletes with the greatest level of comfort on a huge stage this weekend, we will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the Tournament,” commissioner Brett Yormark stated in a press release after the quarterfinals concluded Thursday evening. “We look forward to a great Semifinals and Championship Game.”
While modern for its capability to present numerous graphics in actual time, the LED court noticed some gamers slipping on it and struggling for grip throughout the match’s opening rounds, in addition to throughout the girls’s match right here final week.
Notably, Texas Tech star Christian Andersonprojected because the No. 16 choose in ESPN’s most up-to-date NBA mock draftfell and injured his groin in the second half of a loss Thursday to Iowa State.
“Obviously the floor is a bit slippery, so I think I just kind of misstepped or did a movement that caused me to slip and kind of ended up in a little unnatural position,” he stated. “That’s what it was.”
Added Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland: “It’s definitely different. It’s obviously a different surface than we’re used to playing on, and there were some challenging movements today, is what I would say. I think with size around the basket it’s not [a big issue] but the quickness of guard play, and stop-and-start action — it just has a different response than what we’re used to.”
But it is price noting that slips can happen on any floor, together with a standard hardwood court.
However, Kansas coach Bill Self applauded the Big 12’s determination to change courts.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he stated Thursday evening.
The Big 12, thought of the standout basketball convention in the nation all season, will function a pair of blockbuster matchups Friday evening in the semifinals: No. 7 Iowa State towards No. 2 Arizona in the primary recreation, and No. 5 Houston towards No. 14 Kansas in the second.
Representatives from each NBA crew are readily available this week to take in the motion, with 10 totally different gamers from the convention that includes in the primary spherical of ESPN’s most up-to-date mock draft — together with Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 1, BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa at No. 2 and Houston guard Kingston Flemings at No. 5.
“The focus now needs to be on four of the best teams in the country and not the court,” Yormark informed ESPN of the choice. “I look forward to a great semifinals and championship.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel contributed to this report.
