Big 12 ditches LED glass courts mid-tournament after mixed reviews about slippery surface

The Big 12 volition instrumentality to a accepted hardwood tribunal for the remainder of its men’s hoops tourney aft a fig of players slipped connected the innovative, but controversial, LED solid court. 

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark issued a connection Thursday nighttime announcing the move, stating that the league volition alteration the tribunal for the semifinal games successful bid to supply the "greatest level of comfort" for the players. 

TCU defender Jayden Pierre (1) shoots nether unit from Kansas guards Jamari McDowell (11) and Tre White (3) during the archetypal fractional of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled successful the quarterfinal circular of the Big 12 Conference tourney successful Kansas City, Missouri, connected March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

"After consultation with the coaches of our 4 semifinal teams, I person decided that successful bid to supply our student-athletes with the top level of comfortableness connected a immense signifier this weekend, we volition modulation to a hardwood tribunal for the remainder of the tournament," Yormark said. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"We look guardant to a large semifinals and title game."

The Big 12 announced past period that it would beryllium playing its men's and women's tournaments connected the solid surface, which is produced by ASB GlassFloor and has been utilized astatine the NBA All-Star Game and successful Europe but ne'er during an authoritative contention successful the U.S. 

But the innovative courts received mixed reviews. 

"I volition accidental it was a small slippery successful immoderate areas," Kansas women's subordinate Elle Evans admitted.

A timeout is taken arsenic an LED tribunal is seen during the 2nd fractional of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled betwixt Kansas and TCU successful the quarterfinal circular of the Big 12 Conference tourney successful Kansas City, Missouri, connected March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

FLORIDA STATE STAFFER GOES VIRAL AFTER CELEBRATORY REACTION TO SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE IN ACC TOURNAMENT WIN

"The level was fine," Kansas manager Bill Self said earlier the Jayhawks quarterfinal game, "but it did look a small antithetic from a traction standpoint than the bulk of courts are."

Several players person slipped connected the court, including Texas Tech defender Christian Anderson, who strained a musculus erstwhile helium slipped during the Red Raiders’ 75-63 nonaccomplishment to Iowa State. 

"Obviously, the level is simply a spot slippery," helium said. "I deliberation I conscionable benignant of mis-stepped oregon did a question that caused maine to slip."

Houston's Joseph Tugler (11) passes arsenic BYU's AJ Dybantsa (3) defends during the archetypal fractional of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled successful the quarterfinal circular of the Big 12 Conference tourney successful Kansas City, Missouri, connected March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

After the Jayhawks defeated TCU to beforehand to the semifinals, Self said helium didn’t play a relation successful the determination to swap the courts but admitted that, "I deliberation it’s the close happening to do."

The solid courts person an aluminum and alloy spring-action plan that is expected to mimic the flexibility of hardwood, and the LED panels diagnostic a ceramic coating and small dots etched into the solid successful bid to make traction. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE HOOPS EXPERIENCE

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.