COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State team will have to wait until Saturday to enjoy its Christmas gift. That’s when the Buckeyes will return to action to face Chicago State, on top of a brand new court- the third in the 14-year history of the Schottenstein Center.
But while members of both the OSU men’s and women’s squads are excited to play on the new court, its installation came as a result of more of a need than a want.
“The existing court, we’re into our seventh season with it. So, on average, we move that court over 50 times a year taking it in and out for different events,” Mike Damas, the building engineer of the Schottenstein Center said. “It was starting to get more dead spots and the repairs were starting to get more expensive.”
The need for a new court gave both Buckeye teams the opportunity to give the Schottenstein Center floor a new design, one that they took full advantage of. Reminiscent of the courts at Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion and Illinois’ Assembly Hall, Ohio State’s new court utilizes darker wood at center court to create the shape of the state of Ohio, a design that men’s coach Thad Matta was in full favor of.
“Coach Matta was really adamant that he wanted that on there,” Damas said. “The state of Ohio in the background is a great look for it.”
Continue Reading: New court installed at ‘The Schott’ – Ohio State (Rivals)
