Big 12 ditches LED court
The Big 12 is reverting to a traditional hardwood court for its semifinals after player and coach complaints about a high-tech LED surface — a rare mid-tournament equipment rollback reported. The move underscores how playing surfaces and venue tech can become acute injury and performance issues during high-stakes competition.
On the Pat McAfee Show, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said he consulted with semifinal coaches and cited "mixed reviews" from players as a factor in the change.sports.yahoo.com The conference had unveiled the ASB GlassFloor in a Feb. 10, 2026 press release as its first full LED video court for official competition, and the surface was deployed at the T‑Mobile Center in Kansas City for early-round men's games and the entire women's bracket.big12sports.com Television broadcasts and game reports captured multiple visible slips during Thursday's early-round matchups, and outlets reported Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson leaving a game with an apparent injury amid those on-court issues.sportingnews.com Arena crews installed a traditional hardwood backup overnight at the T‑Mobile Center ahead of the semifinals, and CBS Sports reported Commissioner Yormark made the overnight switch after discussions with coaches.usatoday.com
