Ohio State’s new basketball court is making its postseason debut during the opening rounds of the 2026 women’s NCAA Tournament.
In November, the Buckeyes’ basketball teams went from playing on a standard wooden court at the Schottenstein Center to the updated gray version, which has interchangeable center court logos.
The script Buckeye logo will be at midcourt for the first round of the tournament, which begins with the No. 3 seed Ohio State taking on No. 14 seed Howard, followed by No. 6 seed Notre Dame against No. 11 seed Fairfield.
The alternative option features the Block ‘O’ logo.
Updating the court is one of multiple changes athletic director Ross Bjork is making to reenergize the atmosphere at Ohio State home games. Ohio State had also installed a $2.5 million upgrade to the Schottenstein Center’s sound system and added a new lighting system.
The Buckeyes tip off against the Bison at 11:30 a.m. on March 21, with the Notre Dame-Fairfield game expected to start at 2 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why is Ohio State playing on a gray court at 2026 NCAA Tournament?
Reporting by Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
