Trending Now - Big 12 Moves to Hardwood Courts for Enhanced Player Safety

WHO:

Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner, stated, “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.”

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech guard, stated, “Obviously, the floor is a bit slippery. I think I just kind of mis-stepped or did a movement that caused me to slip and kind of ended up in a little unnatural position.”

Bill Self, Kansas coach, commented, “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner, stated, “We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game.”

Bill Self, Kansas coach, said, “I personally didn’t have any involvement (in the decision to go to hardwood). If the other coaches are doing it, (they) have juice and they got more than I got.”

Kelvin Sampson, Houston coach, stated, “They probably should. If this was a concert tonight and we had a game tomorrow, no different than that.”

Melvin Council Jr., Kansas guard, said, “The floor is slippery. I didn’t want to fully, fully run.”

Keba Keita, BYU center, mentioned that he was being cautious due to the floor conditions.

Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner, stated, “We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game.”

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech guard, said, “Obviously, the floor is a bit slippery. I think I just kind of mis-stepped or did a movement that caused me to slip.”

Bill Self, Kansas coach, commented, “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Big 12 Conference

Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech guard

Bill Self, Kansas coach

Grant McCasland, Texas Tech coach

Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State guard

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State player

Brinley Cannon, BYU women's player

WHAT:

The Big 12 will use a traditional hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament after numerous players reported slipping issues on the glass floor.

Texas Tech lost to Iowa State 75-63 on March 12th, 2026.

The Big 12 will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament after numerous players reported slipping issues on the glass floor.

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech guard, strained a muscle during the game against Iowa State, which Texas Tech lost 75-63.

The Big 12 originally intended to use the glass floor for multiple years.

The glass floor was used during the Big 12 women's tournament prior to the men's tournament.

Christian Anderson's injury occurred with 8:37 remaining in the game against Iowa State.

The Big 12 will feature semifinal matchups on March 13th, 2026, including No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 2 Arizona and No. 5 Houston vs. No. 14 Kansas.

Christian Anderson strained a muscle during the game against Iowa State, which Texas Tech lost 75-63.

The Big 12 Conference is transitioning from a glass court to a hardwood court for the final two days of the tournament.

The decision was made after consultation with the coaches of the four semifinal teams.

Christian Anderson strained a muscle while slipping on the glass floor during a game.

Texas Tech lost to Iowa State 75-63 in the quarterfinals.

The glass floor was used for the men's and women's tournaments but faced criticism for being slippery.

WHERE:

T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri

WHEN:

The decision to switch to hardwood was announced on March 12th, 2026, after the quarterfinals concluded.

The decision to switch to hardwood was announced on March 12th, 2026.

The injury to Christian Anderson occurred on March 12th, 2026, during the game against Iowa State.

WHY:

The decision was made to provide the "greatest level of comfort" for the players during the tournament, following complaints about the glass floor's slipperiness.

Coaches expressed frustration about experimenting with the court during a critical time of the season, as teams prepare for the NCAA Tournament.

The switch to hardwood was made to provide the "greatest level of comfort" for the players during the tournament.

The switch to hardwood was made to provide student-athletes with greater comfort and safety during the tournament.

Players experienced slipping issues on the glass floor, leading to injuries.

HOW:

The glass floor was designed with an aluminum and steel spring-action mechanism to mimic hardwood flexibility, featuring LED panels for graphics and advertising.

The glass floor was designed to be a giant television screen and has been used by two EuroLeague clubs.

The glass floor was designed to mimic hardwood flexibility but faced criticism for being slippery, leading to the decision to revert to a traditional hardwood court.

The glass floor was designed with an aluminum and steel spring-action mechanism to mimic hardwood flexibility, featuring LED panels for graphics and advertising.

The decision to change surfaces was based on feedback from coaches and players regarding the performance of the glass court.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 23:06 UTC)

In a significant move for player safety, the Big 12 has announced it will switch to a traditional hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament after several players reported slipping issues on the glass floor. Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson noted that he experienced a slip that put him in an unnatural position, while Kansas coach Bill Self expressed support for the decision, stating it was the right thing to do. This announcement came shortly after Texas Tech's loss to Iowa State, with the final score being 75 to 63 on March 12.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 19:15 UTC)

The Big 12 has decided to switch to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament after several players reported slipping issues on the glass floor, which was designed to mimic hardwood flexibility. Kansas coach Bill Self mentioned he had no involvement in the decision, while Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark expressed excitement for the upcoming semifinals and championship game. In related news, Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle during their loss to Iowa State, which ended with a score of 75 to 63.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 17:10 UTC)

In a recent statement, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson expressed concerns about the safety of the glass floor being used during the Big 12 tournament, suggesting that it might be more appropriate for a concert than a basketball game. Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. and BYU center Keba Keita both noted that the slippery conditions made them hesitant to play at full speed, raising alarms among coaches as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament. Originally intended for long-term use, this glass floor, designed as a giant television screen and previously used by EuroLeague clubs, has drawn frustration from teams experimenting with it at such a critical time in the season.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 15:10 UTC)

Today, the Big 12 is set for exciting semifinal matchups, featuring No. 7 Iowa State taking on No. 2 Arizona and No. 5 Houston facing off against No. 14 Kansas. Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson, who strained a muscle during their recent loss to Iowa State, noted that the floor was slippery, which contributed to his injury. Following criticism of the glass floor designed to mimic hardwood, the decision was made to switch back to traditional hardwood to ensure the greatest level of comfort for the players during the tournament.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 13:20 UTC)

In a significant move for player safety, the Big 12 Conference announced it will transition from a glass court to a hardwood surface for the final two days of the tournament, following feedback from coaches and players. This decision comes after Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson suffered a muscle strain while slipping on the glass floor during a quarterfinal game against Iowa State, which Texas Tech lost 75 to 63. The glass court, designed to mimic hardwood with its aluminum and steel spring-action mechanism, faced criticism for being slippery, prompting the change at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.