Ahearn Fund members will also notice a new floor at Bramlage Coliseum this season as a newly-designed and refurbished basketball court was introduced this fall.
The Robbins All-Star Plus floor, which was originally purchased and installed in 2004, received a new court design to incorporate the athletics department's new branding effort, while it was completely overhauled to replace broken pine boards and locking clamps that are used to hold the 290 (6x8) panels together.
The floor was sanded down to bare wood and new graphics and court design were painted to include not only the new design, but also new NCAA rule changes. The men's and women's basketball teams will now use the same 3-point distance (20 feet, 9 inches), while the men have added a restricted-area arc under each rim.
The design centers on a purple octagon shape that surrounds the floor with a lone purple Powercat at center court. The shape echoes the unique octagonal design of the building. The "K-State" word mark is prominently found at the top of center court and again under both baskets with the athletics website (www.kstatesports.com) and the new university mark alternating at both ends of the baseline. Bramlage Coliseum is written at the bottom of center court directly opposite the "K-State" word mark. The floor maintains its purple lanes, but there is now a darker stain to mark each 3-point line. The Big 12 logo is displayed within each 3-point arc.
"We are pleased with the new design of the court," said athletics director John Currie. "Our staff worked through several concepts, and with input from both basketball staffs, we were able to unanimously create something that our fans will enjoy for years to come. I want to thank Dave Smoller, Ron Cook, Casey Scott and Scott Garrett, among others, for all their hard work and dedication on this project."
