Kansas vs Indiana: Player Ratings to the Theme of Court Designs
It was a tough start to the game, but Kansas dug themselves out of the hole and overtook Indiana in one of the toughest performances we’ve seen from KU in some time. They went into a hard place to win, got down early and battled back. It was a signature road win, an instant classic (at least the second half), and game that you know Bill Self loved.
So for today’s ratings, we’ll go with some more classics. Basketball court design has come a long way. It used to simply be a wooden floor with a logo at center court and the lanes painted in school colors. Well, the greats still go with the classics, but now, courts can be filled with all types of designs, not just at center court, but anywhere. For today’s ratings, we look at who has the best and worst looking courts in college basketball.
The criteria (but feel free to use the table of contents to skip ahead):
5 Stars: Out of this world performance. This is a hard to achieve rating and is only reserved for the most impressive or impressionable performances.
4.5 Stars: Very strong performance, packed the stat sheet, provided undeniable intangibles.
4 Stars: A strong performance that falls just short of the standards above.
3.5 Stars: Above average performance, perhaps stands out in one category or one aspect of the game.
3 Stars: Average performance. Also could be a very strong game in one aspect but a very poor game in another such as 15 points but seven turnovers. Could also be that the player played, did their job, but didn't do much spectacularly.
2 Stars: Below average performance, or we simply have higher expectations for the player on this particular night.
1 Star: Rare, but if a player has a stinker in all aspects.
5 Stars: Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas)
Did you think that ratings for court design would feature anywhere else than Allen Fieldhouse as the five star? The Jayhawk at center court, the blue lanes, the fact that James Naismith’s name is on it? Perfection.
No one was perfect, so no one can be compared to Allen Fieldhouse, the very standard of perfection.
4.5 Stars: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke)
I like tradition and the court at Duke hasn’t changed in a long time. You’ve got the D at center court and the blue lanes. Simplicity. They’ve added Coach K Court in recent years, and while obviously not James Naismith, it’s still a rather large name to have on the court.
Kevin McCullar picked up his fourth foul with 8:30 left on the game clock. Bill Self stuck with him and not only did McCullar not commit another foul, but he was the man that took charge late in the game. He finished with a team high 21 points, converting 13 of 16 from the free throw line, including the late buckets from the charity stripe that assured a Kansas victory. His three pointer with 3:29 to go gave the Jayhawks the lead they would never relinquish.
4 Stars: Assembly Hall (Indiana)
Minimalism at its finest. No color in the lanes and a white state of Indiana at half court. It’s always a great environment and the minimalist court makes it that much better.
Dajuan Harris made some enormous plays down the stretch in this one, scoring two late baskets and adding an assist in KU’s late winning run. Dajaun nailed a few threes in this one as well, and in the games where he recognizes that he has to be the third scorer, he usually comes up aces. Finished with 12 points and five assists.
Hunter Dickinson wasn’t even very effective in this game, but the big man still had 17 points and 14 rebounds. When other teams start to wear down, Dickinson starts to turn it up. Against Indiana, he made four baskets in the last ten minutes to help KU snatch a win.
Jamari McDowell only played eight minutes, but when the rest of the bench was ineffective, the freshman from Houston played well. He nailed an important three to get KU’s chances going and was solid on both ends in limited minutes. He continues to impress during his brief chances and these experiences will only help him build confidence.
3.5 Stars: Charles E. Smith Center (George Washington)
If you’re going to have designs in the court, it’s best to not make them distracting. George Washington does this with the skyline and national monuments of Washington, DC tastefully designed on one side of the court, the side where the TV cameras are. It’s not gaudy and you really know where you are.
Elmarko Jackson was decent in this one, scoring five and adding three assists and two steals, but at times it seems like he’s a bit too pass happy, denying himself the chance at some buckets while trying to make the extra pass.
KJ Adams turned the ball over three times, and that drops him a half star in the ratings. KJ did have a momentum swinging dunk and finished with 14 points and four rebounds on the night.
3 Stars: Any team that makes the majority of the court a color other than “wood”
Oakland and UCF come to mind. This just rarely looks good.
Parker Braun and Johnny Furphy played sparingly, the starters getting most of the minutes in this one. Braun had a nice finish in his only attempt and Furphy made a free throw.
2 Stars: Schollmaier Arena (TCU)
Horned Frog skin isn’t really very aesthetically pleasing anyway, but making that pattern into a basketball court? Look at this thing. Nope.
I’m starting to wonder if Nick Timberlake will even get minutes going forward.
1 Star: Matthew Knight Arena (Oregon)
The fir trees are completely distracting. This is the worst court design in college basketball.
No one was a one star in this one
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