Big 12 Scraps LED Court After Player, Coach Complaints

Conference returns to traditional hardwood for men's tournament semifinals and finals

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:33pm

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The Big 12 conference debuted a new LED glass basketball court for both its men's and women's conference tournaments this year, hoping to provide a unique viewing experience. However, the innovative court surface quickly drew criticism from players, coaches, and fans due to issues like poor visibility, slippery conditions, and dizziness caused by the changing court designs. After using the LED floor for the women's tournament and the men's quarterfinals, the Big 12 announced it would revert to a traditional hardwood court for the men's semifinals and championship game.

Why it matters

The Big 12's attempt to modernize its tournament courts highlights the challenges of implementing new technology in high-level sports. While the conference aimed to enhance the fan experience, the LED floor proved problematic for the athletes actually competing on it, raising questions about balancing innovation and player safety. This incident also underscores the difficulty of transitioning away from established norms in college basketball, where tradition often takes precedence.

The details

The Big 12's LED court, provided by company ASB GlassFloor, cost over $2 million to install. The innovative surface allowed the conference to change court designs in real-time, with plans to add elements like shot charts and animations. However, players complained the court was more slippery than a standard hardwood floor, and the changing visuals caused some dizziness and headaches. Issues also arose with the visibility of key court markings. After the women's tournament was played entirely on the LED floor and the men's quarterfinals used it, the Big 12 decided to revert to a traditional hardwood court for the men's semifinals and championship game.

  • The Big 12 debuted the new LED court for both its men's and women's conference tournaments in 2026.
  • The women's tournament was played entirely on the LED floor.
  • The men's tournament used the LED court for the quarterfinal round.
  • On the day of the men's semifinal games, the Big 12 announced it would switch back to a hardwood court.

The players

Brett Yormark

The commissioner of the Big 12 conference, who stated the goal was to "keep raising the bar" and "elevate the league's profile" by using the innovative LED court.

ASB GlassFloor

The company that provided the LED basketball court surface used by the Big 12, which aims to create the "future in sports courts" by allowing real-time design changes.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner

What’s next

The Big 12 will use a traditional hardwood court for the men's tournament semifinals and championship game.

The takeaway

The Big 12's attempt to modernize its tournament courts by using an innovative LED surface ultimately fell short, as player and coach complaints about issues like visibility and playability led the conference to revert to a standard hardwood floor. This incident highlights the challenges of balancing technological innovation and athlete comfort in college sports, where tradition often takes priority.