The Big 12 Conference will use a traditional hardwood court for the semifinal and championship games of its 2026 men's basketball tournament after multiple players slipped during quarterfinal action on the innovative LED glass court.[1][2]

Commissioner Brett Yormark announced the change late Thursday, March 12, 2026, following discussions with coaches from the four advancing teams. The decision aims to ensure player comfort ahead of the weekend contests at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.[1][3]

"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," Yormark said in a statement. "We look forward to a great semifinals and championship game."[1][2]

The tournament, which determines the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament qualifier, is held annually at T-Mobile Center, the venue since 2010 under a long-term agreement.[3][4]

The Big 12 introduced the ASB GlassFloor LED court last month for both its men's and women's tournaments, marking its debut in a U.S. collegiate postseason event. The surface features aluminum and steel springs for flexibility, LED panels, a ceramic coating, and etched dots for traction. It was previously used at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis and in several European arenas.[5][6]

Quarterfinal games on March 12 drew complaints about traction. Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle after slipping in his team's loss to Iowa State. Kansas coach Bill Self described the court as "a little different from a traction standpoint."[2][7]

After Kansas defeated TCU in the quarterfinals, Self endorsed the switch, calling it "the right thing to do."[2]

Sources

1. Big 12 Conference, "Statement from Commissioner Brett Yormark on 2026 Men's Basketball Championship Court", March 12, 2026, https://big12sports.com/news/2026/3/12/general-mbb-championship-court-change-announcement
2. Fox News Digital, "Big 12 returns to hardwood court after slips on LED glass during tournament", March 13, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/big-12-hardwood-court-led-glass-slips
3. Associated Press, "Big 12 men's basketball tournament quarterfinals coverage", March 12, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/big-12-tournament-2026-quarterfinals-glass-court
4. Big 12 Conference, "2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship", accessed March 13, 2026, https://big12sports.com/sports/mens-basketball/championship
5. ASB GlassFloor, "ASB GlassFloor - LED Sports Floor Technology", accessed March 13, 2026, https://www.asb-glassfloor.com/