Tim Bontemps
Multiple Authors
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 revolutionary LED glass court it was utilizing led 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 an announcement after the quarterfinals concluded Thursday night time. “We look forward to a great Semifinals and Championship Game.”
While revolutionary for its skill to present numerous graphics in actual time, the LED court noticed some gamers slipping on it and struggling for grip through the match’s opening rounds, in addition to through the ladies’s match right here final week.
Notably, Texas Tech star Christian Anderson, projected because the No. 16 choose in ESPN’s most up-to-date NBA mock draft, fell 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.
Nevertheless, Kansas coach Bill Self applauded the Big 12’s choice to change courts.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he stated Thursday night time.
The Big 12, thought-about the standout basketball convention in the nation all season, will characteristic a pair of blockbuster matchups Friday night time in the semifinals: No. 7 Iowa State in opposition to No. 2 Arizona in the primary sport, and No. 5 Houston in opposition to No. 14 Kansas in the second.
Representatives from each NBA group are readily available this week to take in the motion, with 10 completely 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 (*12*) at No. 5.
“The focus now needs to be on four of the best teams in the country and not the court,” Yormark instructed ESPN of the choice. “I look forward to a great semifinals and championship.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel contributed to this report.
