Big 12 moving back to hardwood courts in men’s tournament

The Big 12 will be moving back to hardwood courts for the remainder of the men’s tournament, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Thamel said the mixed reviews of the LED glass court and feedback that the court was slippery contributed to the change.

The Big 12 unveiled the LED glass court for the men’s and women’s tournaments to embark on innovation, being the first to use ASB GlassFloor LED court technology for official competition in the United States.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game was the only previous competition to use the technology.

However, fans took to social media during the women’s tournament, which was played before the men’s, to voice their displeasure with the new court.

But the Big 12 remained steadfast with its new glass court as the men’s tournament began.

While some fans appreciated the special effects the glass court technology provided, many were unhappy with the stability, safety and durability of the court.

Here’s a closer look at the lines on the floor players are having some very mixed reviews of this week.https://t.co/CtJxHkKgcC pic.twitter.com/0Lt4nxoJy0

— Nathan Giese (@NathanGiese) March 12, 2026

Another cool aspect of the Glass Court at the Big 12 Tournament. After a Dunk, the area inside the 3-point line looks like Glass shattering. pic.twitter.com/ZLtRh10gw1

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) March 10, 2026

In fact, in the first game played on the court on Thursday, Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson left injured.

#TexasTech guard Christian Anderson on the state of the Big 12 Tournament court and how’s he’s feeling after coming out with injury: pic.twitter.com/sVi5rj78q2

— Cory Whitman (@CoryWhitmanDT) March 12, 2026

Red Raiders’ coach Grant McCasland also called out the courts’ slipperiness.

#TexasTech head coach Grant McCasland on the state of the glass court at the Big 12 Tournament:

He said the slipperiness of the court had more of an effect on guard play rather than players around the basket.

“It’s obviously a different surface than we’re used to playing on.… pic.twitter.com/CvPcsFmsql

— Cory Whitman (@CoryWhitmanDT) March 12, 2026

The Big 12 tournament quarterfinals concluded on Thursday and the semifinals will begin on Friday with a transition back to hardwood floors.

“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,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Thursday. “We look forward to a great Semifinals and Championship Game.”

The two semifinal games will kickoff with Iowa State and Arizona facing off at 4 p.m. and Kansas and Houston playing at 6:30 p.m.

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