Big 12 eliminates LED GlassFloor for remainder of 2026 conference tournament
Mar 12, 2026, 11:43 PM | Updated: Mar 13, 2026, 11:47 am
The Big 12 Conference is eliminating the ASB GlassFloor for the remainder of the 2026 conference tournament. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Big 12 Tournament glass floor was short-lived.
Late Thursday night, after the quarterfinal matchups concluded, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark announced that the ASB Glassfloor is done.
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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark announces the elimination of the glass court
“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. We look forward to a great Semifinals and Championship Game,” Yormark said in a written statement.
The hardwood floor will be used for two semifinal games featuring Arizona vs. Iowa State and Houston vs. Kansas.
Immediately after the conclusion of the Kansas-TCU game on Thursday, a crew inside T-Mobile Center was pulling apart the GlassFloor in preparation for tomorrow night’s Semifinal game.
“I think it’s the right thing to do, though,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said after the news was announced on Thursday night.
Self continued, “I didn’t notice us slipping as much. I personally didn’t think it was as big a deal, but if you study it and watch the games throughout the day — and maybe even some tonight– it seemed to me there were a lot of steps that end up sliding one or two inches. It just didn’t look quite as clean. It’s a cool-looking floor, but I’m excited that the talk tomorrow will be about the semifinals as opposed to the court.”
Kansas head coach Bill Self was asked for his thoughts on the Big 12 moving away from a glass floor to a hardwood court for the remainder of the conference tournament.
“I think it’s the right thing to do.” pic.twitter.com/EtvChsW82e
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 13, 2026
Throughout the week in Kansas City, the controversial court garnered mixed reviews. It was the first time the ASB GlassFloor was used for an official competition in the United States.
Some players complained that the LED lights caused headaches. But one of the main issues was the slippery playing surface.
On Thursday, the Big 12’s “Most Improved Player,” Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson, suffered an injury and pointed to the slippery court.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYUathletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
