Kansas Jayhawks Prepare for Big 12 Tournament
In Kansas City, Missouri, excitement builds as the Kansas Jayhawks prepare for their Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday. Typically, teams would refrain from practicing days in advance at their venue, the T-Mobile Center. However, a recent encounter between Jayhawks coach Bill Self and Brandon Schneider, coach of the women’s team, prompted a change in plans.
Innovative Glass Floor
Schneider’s squad had just experienced the newly installed glass floor—a high-tech surface that has garnered both interest and apprehension among players and coaches alike.
Self noted, “The floor was fine, but it did feel somewhat different in terms of traction compared to most courts.”
Players’ reactions have generally echoed this sentiment. Brinley Cannon of BYU’s women’s team described the floor as “really cool-looking,” yet acknowledged its unique feel, stating that it is indeed a little slick at times. This is not your standard court; the new surface was specially designed by ASB GlassFloor and has been previously showcased during events like the NBA All-Star Game but hadn’t been utilized for competitive play in the United States until now.
Design and Maintenance
Unlike traditional wooden layouts, this innovative court combines aluminum and steel with a spring-action design aimed at imitating the resilience of hardwood. The LED panels integrated into the court allow for displaying graphics and advertisements. In a twist, the surface has been coated to enhance grip, though some players have raised concerns about its slipperiness.
Kansas women’s player Elle Evans remarked, “I will say it was a little slippery in some areas,” reflecting the experiences of several athletes who found themselves unexpectedly slipping while navigating the uniquely designed court.
Beyond the flooring’s physical characteristics, the maintenance has its own quirks. Instead of using standard brooms, staff members donning “Windex Glass Care Team” gear rush onto the court with specialized cleaning equipment as players fall, sometimes spraying a cleaning solution before wiping effects away—similar to how one might clean windows.
Visual Experience and Feedback
On a more vibrant note, the court also offers an extravagant visual experience during games. Team logos brighten the surface during player introductions, while vivid laser graphics animate the court during timeouts. Cummard, the BYU women’s coach, humorously mentioned a media timeout when the moving graphics caught him by surprise.
“In pregame introductions, seeing the whole court illuminated in BYU blue was one of the coolest experiences I’ve witnessed,” he said.
Interestingly, not everyone is expressing reservations about the new court design. Officials have reported a favorable encounter with the surface, citing its shock-absorbing qualities that could benefit their knees in the long run. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark relayed their feedback and noted,
“Every official last week came up and said, ‘Brett, this is going to help me — if we ever play on this court again — it’s going to prolong my career.’”
As the tournament progresses, the feedback from all participants will be crucial in assessing the future of this unique glass flooring.
