In the bustling Alamodome, workers were on all fours, maneuvering large wooden panels into position to form a crucial sports platform. A 15-pound sledgehammer lay nearby, ready to be employed with careful precision, its impact cushioned by a plastic block to protect the valuable wood as they wedged the panels together.
This labor-intensive process, which involved a team of over a dozen individuals, took nearly four hours to piece together. Similar efforts are being conducted simultaneously in Florida, setting the stage for one of the most esteemed events in sports: the Final Four basketball championships for both men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments.
These final games unfold on meticulously constructed courts, products of Connor Sports. The wood used, hard maple, is harvested near the company’s Michigan hometown. As the tournament progresses, teams in San Antonio and Tampa compete on hallowed grounds, the same kind of wood floors that have been a staple in basketball history for over 100 years.
This hard maple connects the biggest moments and the everyday games in basketball. From significant plays to heartbreaking defeats, from professional NBA arenas to elementary school courts, this wood is part of the basketball tradition. Connor Sports’ Zach Riberdy captures its essence: “The tradition of the game of basketball was created on hardwood,” he notes, reminiscing on personal experiences like floor burns from diving for loose balls, hallmark sensations unique to the sport.
These wooden grains hold deep historical significance. For instance, the famed shot by Bobby Plump in 1954, immortalizing Milan High and inspiring the movie “Hoosiers,” was taken on Northern hard maple. This wood has been the bedrock at various storied venues, from Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium to the floors capturing March Madness moments.
Connor Sports’ technical director, Jason Gasperich, attributes the enduring preference for maple to its resilience and heritage. The Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association emerged shortly after Dr. James Naismith’s first basketball game, reflecting a long-standing tradition of maple floors across basketball courts at all levels. The wood’s unique durability and minimal maintenance have made it indispensable.
Reflecting on their preparation, Steve Bernard from MFMA explains that the certified hard maple typically originates north of Tennessee and is processed into panels that form the courts. These panels not only support the courts’ structure but also aid in absorbing shocks, offering players the ideal surface for gameplay.
Specialized drying processes ensure quality before the wood, refined into panels, arrives at locations like Texas and Ohio for finishing. This involves sanding, staining, and detailing paintwork over several weeks before shipping to arenas. Post-event, the victorious schools often purchase these courts, displaying sections with a sense of pride and history.
Coaches like Tom Izzo appreciate such memorabilia, recognizing their value beyond just the material. Similarly, Roy Williams recalls his early coaching years, emphasizing court maintenance, a tradition he continued throughout his career. For him and others, each court is a vessel of rich basketball history, engaging both players and fans with its storied past.
An example of local enthusiasm is the Fishers Event Center, which adopted the court from Purdue’s landmark Midwest Region games. This acquisition not only highlighted local heritage but also resonated with upcoming talents like Maya Makalusky, whose high school game on the court evoked emotions and dreams of future basketball glory.
As the Final Four approaches, the courts—both in reality and broadcast—serve as powerful symbols, spurring ambitions and invoking nostalgia among all who experience their splendor.
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