Flowers are extremely popular in Hawai'i, including in the form of a lei. So even though this year's Maui Invitational is currently being played in Las Vegas due to COVID-19, the keys on the court will ensure that viewers are constantly thinking of flowers. Following is a screenshot from ESPN.com.
Asheville, North Carolina, is well known as an artsy kind of town. Accordingly, the court for the inaugural Asheville Championship college basketball tournament features multicolor keys that look like they were designed by an artist.
College basketball observers have long noted a major contrast between the courts for the men's and women's Final Four games. Whereas the court at the men's Final Four typically features no artistic references to the host city, the women's Final Four court annually reveals a creative tribute to where the games are being held (see earlier postings on this blog).
This year's women's Final Four court, on display in tonight's two national semifinals, does not disappoint, in my view. Though in perhaps an understated way, the court's reference to San Antonio's Alamo Mission is clear. The Alamo has a distinctive look, as shown here. On the women's Final Four court, the Alamo is defined only by its outline along the top of its facade. I couldn't find an image of the court earlier tonight, so I decided to create my own schematic, which follows.
Uni Watch, which reports on changes to playing surfaces as well as to uniforms, is out with its 2020-21 College Hoops Preview (thanks to Matt Rachmiel for notifying me). Some of the upcoming changes in court design -- such as Alabama's and Central Michigan's additions of state outlines -- were already reported in the summer (see earlier postings). I just noticed that Campbell (in North Carolina) will also be incorporating a state outline.
