Updated at 11:06 PM PDT on March 12, 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 Conference has decided to replace its slippery glass floor with a traditional hardwood court for the tournament’s final two days.
“After consulting with the coaches of our four semifinal teams, I’ve decided that to ensure maximum comfort for our student-athletes on such a prominent stage, we will switch to a hardwood court for the remainder of the tournament,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark in a statement on Thursday evening. “We are excited about the upcoming semifinals and championship game.”
Several players have experienced slips while trying to move on the glass floor. Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson strained a muscle during the No. 16 Red Raiders’ 75-63 defeat to No. 7 Iowa State on Thursday.
“Clearly, the floor is quite slippery,” Anderson commented. “I think I just mis-stepped, which led to me slipping.”
Last month, the Big 12 announced its plan to use the ASB GlassFloor, which has been featured at the NBA All-Star Game and in European competitions, but never before in an official U.S. tournament.
Kansas coach Bill Self, following his team’s 78-73 victory over TCU—the last game played on the glass floor—mentioned, “I had no part in the decision to switch back to hardwood. If other coaches influenced it, they certainly have more sway than I do. But I believe this was the right call.”
The glass court utilizes an aluminum and steel spring-action design intended to replicate the flexibility of hardwood. Its LED panels offer everything from data-driven visuals to advertisements, complemented by a ceramic coating and etched dots designed to improve grip akin to traditional surfaces.
While the ball’s bounce remains consistent, it produces a different “thudding” sound, and there’s an increase in sneaker squeaks. However, the main issue reported has been the floor’s traction.
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