Grading all new court designs for 2013

[ponyinNC]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1773643-grading-every-new-college-basketball-court-design-for-2013-14-season#/articles/1773643-grading-every-new-college-basketball-court-design-for-2013-14-season/page/22

In the last year and change, SMU has hired a Hall of Fame coach, recruited a 2013 McDonald's All-American and secured a verbal commitment from arguably the top point guard in the 2014 class.

With the program getting a figurative new look, why not make it literal with a new court? Moody Coliseum will sport a heavily blue design intended to offset the red that dominates the courtside seats and goal standards.

The large red pony logo instantly draws the focus amid all the blue. It has to, because aside from the stars in the American logos, the horse rides alone to provide a splash of color.

SMU even skipped the now-standard two-tone wood stain that schools use to make their foul lanes or two-point wing areas pop. It's all uniform, clean and simple. The design is the kind that a school wants to use when it intends for the players to be the stars, not the court they perform on.

Grade: B

[Rebel10]

I like GW's as well.

[leopold]

GW's is great. Memphis's turned out better than I thought they would. I actually like the UTEP pick-axes.

[SMU 86]

UCF's blacktop is pretty neat too.

[blackoutpony]

I think a B is a very fair grade for ours.

I also liked UTEP's court. Not sure why they hated on it.

UCF's court looks outstanding. Definitely my favorite out of the bunch

[PonyKai]

Honestly, I think our court probably deserves a B+. It's very clean, classic, and good color scheme. My gripe is that it's boring; I wish we went the Memphis route. But based just on the aesthetics, I'd say it's a little bit higher than a B.

[ponyboy]

I don't normally chime in on these sorts of things, preferring to lean in matters of fashion to what would attract the most recruits. But I strongly dislike our new court. The colors are washed out and just plain wrong -- why can't we just pick a color set and stick with it? And it's just a plain boring design. C or C- IMO

[LA_Mustang]

I like how GW and Memphis used the skyline/iconic structures in the floor design. I was hoping we would do that with the Dallas skyline.

[East Coast Mustang]

I don't normally chime in on these sorts of things, preferring to lean in matters of fashion to what would attract the most recruits. But I strongly dislike our new court. The colors are washed out and just plain wrong -- why can't we just pick a color set and stick with it? And it's just a plain boring design. C or C- IMO

Totally disagree. The colors are perfect, and I'm glad that blue (and not red) is the predominant color on the floor. I also like that there's no stupid gimmicks like blacktop...our nationally ranked teams should be the focus, not the hardwood floor.

[Rebel10]

I don't normally chime in on these sorts of things, preferring to lean in matters of fashion to what would attract the most recruits. But I strongly dislike our new court. The colors are washed out and just plain wrong -- why can't we just pick a color set and stick with it? And it's just a plain boring design. C or C- IMO

Totally disagree. The colors are perfect, and I'm glad that blue (and not red) is the predominant color on the floor. I also like that there's no stupid gimmicks like blacktop...our nationally ranked teams should be the focus, not the hardwood floor.

Just because you do not like it does not mean it is stupid. I do kind of wish they would have had the 2 tone two-tone wood stain two-point wing areas.

[ponyboy]

Who said stupid?

[Rebel10]

Who said stupid?

Talking to ECM. Ponyboy, I tend to agree with you. I don't know why we can't have a nationally ranked team and a top floor as well.

[bubba pony]

our floor will look great on national TV. It is to the point, we are SMU, and no clutter.
some people would want Hooter girl pictures on the floor.

[leopold]

I have to say, I have to disagree with everyone on UCF's court. I can't stand it. Don't really know why, but my first response was 'ugh.'

I like Old Dominion's new logo - the lion within the state of Virginia. It's a bit of a rip-off of ECU's 'pirate in the state of NC', but it's smart because it tells where it is, which a lot of people don't know, and the lion itself is well done.

Does anybody else like JMU's mulitple stained floorboards? Regardless of the bulldogs on the court?

Never liked the CSU 'rams' look, but I don't know what to think about FIU's 'beach towel' court.

[SMU 86]

Some kid who grow playing on blacktops most of his life might appreciate it. From my understanding the UCF court was a tribute to the old school blacktop courts. I think it was a good idea.