(01-15-2023 10:36 AM)esayem Wrote: I believe the fad peaked years ago and is on the downslope. Scanning the Top 25, I believe only TCU has one of these gimmick courts so I’m not sure how much of an influence it is. I don’t even remember which school first did the cityscape (Memphis?), but then every peanut school felt they had to jump on the bandwagon.
The absence of busy courts doesn’t stop the best programs from attracting kids. Also, I agree with Ken. I’m sure the courts don’t look as bad in person.
Well said as the point relates to North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, etc. Those programs could have the most bland courts and it won't be harmful.
But for programs like Memphis, offering a "cool" court design could be (in theory, at least) simply one element of many (much like, as another example, having a rapper at Midnight Madness) that, collectively, can prove helpful for recruiting players and for drawing young urban fans.
I do hope the "busy court" fad is fading.
I don't much care for these three Memphis Tiger court designs (Vanderbilt once had a "Nashville skyline" court design, by the way; however, I can't find an image online):
It's kinda like this: some teams prefer traditional helmets, logos, and basketball court floors.
The University of Pittsburgh is a great example of this!! Remember how much the Pittsburgh fans loved it when they got their old football helmets back?? Traditionalist to a tee!! Pittsburgh fans to rest of the world: "Harumph!!! We love our tradition!! Harumph!!"
If you look at Pittsburgh's tradition, you can see why they love it so much.
Oregon fans are like, let's be different, and start our own traditions. Why?? Oregon fans: we don't really have any, and you have start somewhere!!!
Imagine Raymond James Stadium without the pirate ship. I'm sure there are traditionalists who would look down their noses and say that it doesn't belong in the stadium. Did the Bucs listen to the traditionalists?? Nope!!
I'm curious to see the Memphis court (the link is not working for me).
Agree with your overall assessment. Spot on.
I like the candy stripe warmup pants Indiana still uses (and the unadorned court for that matter). But I like some more "edgy" uniforms (and even courts). It varies. But if it works ... so be it.
It didn't work for me either, Bill Dazzle. Let's try it again :
Ah, yes. Thanks for posting, Dawg. I'm not a fan of that design but I do appreciate the civic pride element that drove its creation. I kind of like the Hernando de Soto Bridge component.
If the tiger, M, bridge and skyline were collectively smaller ... I might rather like. The color scheme is interesting.
Actually, without the penises, I kind of like having the entire three point area painted a different color than inside the three point line. As long as the paint isn't some garish, neon color like Oregon often uses in its uniforms.
(01-15-2023 09:06 AM)bill dazzle Wrote: I find many of these courts nowadays excessively over-the-top – much like a man who is fully tattooed and pierced and essentially, while in public, quietly screaming "Look at me! I'm a somebody!!" — as he fails to understand that the truest ways of self-expression are through our intellect, wit, talents and communication skills. And not our appearance. These courts are absurd on various levels.
But the young men who play college basketball love this type stuff. It's flashy and "sexy." Youth is about energy and vibrancy.
These courts are for the players and young fans — and not for me. So I get.
Bob Knight, were he coaching today, would not allow such a "busy and showy" basketball court. And that is one reason (among many), The General would struggle to land top talent. Times change. People change.
I believe the fad peaked years ago and is on the downslope. Scanning the Top 25, I believe only TCU has one of these gimmick courts so I’m not sure how much of an influence it is. I don’t even remember which school first did the cityscape (Memphis?), but then every peanut school felt they had to jump on the bandwagon.
The absence of busy courts doesn’t stop the best programs from attracting kids. Also, I agree with Ken. I’m sure the courts don’t look as bad in person.
Xavier (ranked #12) says hello.
As a UC fan, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a bit jealous of Xavier's court. It looks good, it's understated, it's unique, and it overflows with pride in our shared city.
(01-15-2023 09:06 AM)bill dazzle Wrote: I find many of these courts nowadays excessively over-the-top – much like a man who is fully tattooed and pierced and essentially, while in public, quietly screaming "Look at me! I'm a somebody!!" — as he fails to understand that the truest ways of self-expression are through our intellect, wit, talents and communication skills. And not our appearance. These courts are absurd on various levels.
But the young men who play college basketball love this type stuff. It's flashy and "sexy." Youth is about energy and vibrancy.
These courts are for the players and young fans — and not for me. So I get.
Bob Knight, were he coaching today, would not allow such a "busy and showy" basketball court. And that is one reason (among many), The General would struggle to land top talent. Times change. People change.
I believe the fad peaked years ago and is on the downslope. Scanning the Top 25, I believe only TCU has one of these gimmick courts so I’m not sure how much of an influence it is. I don’t even remember which school first did the cityscape (Memphis?), but then every peanut school felt they had to jump on the bandwagon.
The absence of busy courts doesn’t stop the best programs from attracting kids. Also, I agree with Ken. I’m sure the courts don’t look as bad in person.
Xavier (ranked #12) says hello.
As a UC fan, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a bit jealous of Xavier's court. It looks good, it's understated, it's unique, and it overflows with pride in our shared city.
They pulled it off with class imo.
01-16-2023 10:53 AM
bill dazzle
Craft beer and urban living enthusiast
Posts: 10,669
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I Root For: Vandy/Memphis/DePaul/UNC
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We might need to conference with resident expert, Hokie4Skins, regarding this phallic fiasco.
A deftly delivered and effective quip that subtly references the poster's unfortunate (or perhaps purposefully playful) handle and its man region suggestiveness. Would that I could award you five rep points.
01-16-2023 11:18 AM
bill dazzle
Craft beer and urban living enthusiast
Posts: 10,669
Joined: Aug 2016
Reputation: 979
I Root For: Vandy/Memphis/DePaul/UNC
Location: Nashville
(01-15-2023 09:06 AM)bill dazzle Wrote: I find many of these courts nowadays excessively over-the-top – much like a man who is fully tattooed and pierced and essentially, while in public, quietly screaming "Look at me! I'm a somebody!!" — as he fails to understand that the truest ways of self-expression are through our intellect, wit, talents and communication skills. And not our appearance. These courts are absurd on various levels.
But the young men who play college basketball love this type stuff. It's flashy and "sexy." Youth is about energy and vibrancy.
These courts are for the players and young fans — and not for me. So I get.
Bob Knight, were he coaching today, would not allow such a "busy and showy" basketball court. And that is one reason (among many), The General would struggle to land top talent. Times change. People change.
I believe the fad peaked years ago and is on the downslope. Scanning the Top 25, I believe only TCU has one of these gimmick courts so I’m not sure how much of an influence it is. I don’t even remember which school first did the cityscape (Memphis?), but then every peanut school felt they had to jump on the bandwagon.
The absence of busy courts doesn’t stop the best programs from attracting kids. Also, I agree with Ken. I’m sure the courts don’t look as bad in person.
Xavier (ranked #12) says hello.
As a UC fan, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a bit jealous of Xavier's court. It looks good, it's understated, it's unique, and it overflows with pride in our shared city.
A strong and effective design. The only element I would change is making the "X" smaller. Grade: A-minus.
(01-15-2023 11:57 AM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: ...what are y'all's thoughts about the old Bucks' Mecca floor? I remember as a kid I thought it was pretty cool, but it may be one of the 'forerunners' of the 'extreme' designed floor....
....
But the original was done by an actual artist/sculptor in Robert Indiana, not just a graphic designer or intern slapping school logos on 35% of the court five times with different baselines just to go to a fan vote
Good point.
Robert Indiana is the name of the artist, btw. It's a pseudonym. (He was from Indianapolis.)
Robert Indiana's best-known design is the LOVE image showing the first two letters stacked onto the second two, as the O tilts to create an oblong shape aimed at the V. It first appeared on greeting cards, then took 3D form in sculptures.
As a UC fan, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a bit jealous of Xavier's court. It looks good, it's understated, it's unique, and it overflows with pride in our shared city.
A handsome look.
IIRC the larger logos at center serve a practical purpose. A better basketball buff than I could explain it, but they may be sized so that when a player 'shoots from the logo' viewers get a visual reference to help estimate the length of the shot.
Much of the trend is surely driven by media tech, of course. Smaller screens = Bigger logos
(01-15-2023 05:14 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: Very Oregon and very cool.
But if your mascot is a duck, shouldn’t you have cattails and other marshy plants around the edge of your court?
An Oregon swamp in winter is evidently a yellowish light brown. As long as the actual swamp is wet, it probably meets a duck's minimum standard. Even better if it is surrounded by evergreens, though it puzzles why the evergreens are not ... uhhh, green, given that Green is Oregon's other color.
(This post was last modified: 01-16-2023 02:18 PM by BruceMcF.)
...I kinda dig Samford's - but they have gone primarily blue (not the court) over the years - I remember they were an 'even' red/blue for quite a while. I think the Dawg logo is growing on me as well - it seemed generic at first, but I think it's becoming more identifiable as Samford to the 'average' fan...
As to the Quack, I'd rather have a big ol' fightin' Duck jumping thru the block 'O' at mid-court... but the trees are ok, maybe just a bit 'overwrought'... my beef with it is it's hard to see the boundary lines...
Because I miss the big ol' fightin' Duck jumping thru the block O that I am taking the time to resurrect this thread. We need a zombie I wouldn't mind seeing a smaller version of the Big ol' fightin ' Duck jumping thru the block O inside each 3 pt arc, which I believe is called the key, if I am not mistaken.
(This post was last modified: 01-27-2023 02:48 AM by DawgNBama.)
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