The Big 12 Conference has decided to stop using its experimental LED glass basketball court for the remainder of its men’s tournament after safety concerns surfaced during early-round games.
The high-tech court, installed at T-Mobile Center, featured panels of shatter-resistant glass embedded with LED lights capable of displaying graphics, animations and logos during games. The surface was introduced as part of an effort to modernize the tournament experience for fans and broadcasts.
However, players quickly raised concerns that the floor was slippery. Those concerns intensified after Christian Anderson slipped during a game and strained a muscle while Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball faced Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball in the tournament.
Following the incident and feedback from teams, commissioner Brett Yormark announced the conference would return to a traditional hardwood court for the semifinals and championship game to ensure player comfort and safety.
The LED court technology, produced by ASB GlassFloor, has been used in exhibition events such as the NBA All-Star Game and in some European competitions. But the Big 12 tournaments marked its first use in official U.S. college basketball games.
With the change, the final rounds of the tournament in Kansas City will now be played on a traditional hardwood surface.