KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas doesn't play its Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal until Thursday, and under normal circumstances, the Jayhawks would've skipped entirely the opportunity to spend 30 minutes three days ahead of time practicing inside the familiar T-Mobile Center.
But when coach Bill Self crossed paths with Brandon Schneider, whose women's team had just played on the new, high-tech glass floor installed at the downtown Kansas City arena, he was convinced that those 30 minutes might be worthwhile.
“The floor was fine,” Self said afterward, “but it did seem a little different from a traction standpoint than the majority of courts are.”
That's been the general assessment of the floor: Much like ice, it's a little bit slick but pretty cool.
"It's really cool. It's really cool-looking," BYU women's player Brinley Cannon said, "but it definitely is a little bit of a different feel.”
The Big 12 announced last month that it would be playing its men's and women's tournaments on the surface, which is produced by ASB GlassFloor and has been used at the NBA All-Star Game and in Europe but never during an official competition in the U.S.
Rather than traditional wood, the floor has an aluminum and steel spring-action design that is supposed to mimic the flexibility of hardwood. The LED panels, which allow the league to display everything from data-driven graphics to advertising, have ceramic coating and little dots etched into the glass that are supposed to create grip that is consistent with traditional surfaces.
The ball seems to bounce like usual, though with a different “thudding” sound. There are a whole lot more squeaks from sneakers than usual. But the biggest difference has been the traction: Numerous players have slipped when they might not otherwise.
“I will say it was a little slippery in some areas,” Kansas women's player Elle Evans admitted.
There are a whole lot of other differences that come with such an unusual court.
When players hit the ground, rather than traditional brooms, workers wearing black jumpsuits that say “Windex Glass Care Team” on the back scurry onto the floor with specialized mops to clean up. Sometimes, they spray a cleaning solution before wiping it away.
Just how you might clean your windows at home.
Team logos are prominently displayed during introductions. During timeouts, the 3-point line, half-court line and lane lines morph into flashing red lasers. When someone dunks, the entire interior of the 3-point arc lights up as if it's shattered glass.
“There was one of the media timeouts where the graphic on the court started to move,” BYU women's coach Lee Cummard said, only half-jokingly, “and it kind of freaked me out a little bit, right?
“I wasn’t paying attention to the court,” Cummard added, “but in pregame introductions, the whole court being lit up in BYU blue and their names being the whole court, I thought that was as cool of a thing I’ve seen as far as pregame introductions.”
One group that seems to like the slightly springy aspect of the court: the officials.
"Every official last week came up and said, ‘Brett, this is going to help me — if we ever play on this court again — it’s going to prolong my career,' because it provides shock absorption for their knees," Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said. “Beyond that I haven't heard much, to be honest with you. But we encourage all the key stakeholders to provide us feedback.”
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FILE - Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark addresses the media during the NCAA college Big 12 women's basketball media day, Oct. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
TORONTO (AP) — Police in Canada searched Tuesday for two assailants who opened fire at the U.S. consulate in downtown Toronto in an early-morning attack that damaged the outside of the building but did not cause any injuries.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather called it a national security incident and said the national police force was working with Toronto police on finding the suspects and determining the motive.
The shooting came amid heightened tension over the Iran war, and followed gunfire attacks on two Toronto-area synagogues last weekend. Leather said the U.S. and Israeli consulates, as well as embassies in Ottawa, would see an increase in security.
“It is extremely concerning,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said. “We will use the full weight of our resources to ensure that the perpetrators feel the full weight of justice.”
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said two individuals emerged from a white Honda CRV SUV at around 4:30 a.m. and fired multiple shots at the building before fleeing. Police released images of the SUV, but had no further information about the suspects.
“There were people inside the building. However, this building is highly secured and highly fortified and there were no injuries,” he said.
The gunshots caused damage to the outside but did not penetrate into the building, Barredo said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it “an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbors," and he hinted at a possible link to the war in Iran.
Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, said his team is in close contact with Canadian authorities.
“This morning’s attack on our Consulate General in Toronto is deeply troubling. I am very grateful that no one was hurt,” he said in a social media post. “Our work continues, we will not be intimidated.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said there was a heavy police presence Tuesday at both the U.S. and Israeli consulates in Toronto, adding that the city's Jewish community must have the “right to practice their faith and culture and to live their day-to-day lives without fear, intimidation or violence.”
Toronto has a large Iranian community and the war in Iran has prompted demonstrations outside the U.S. consulate, both in support and in protest. The consulate is often the site of protests.
Carney said in a post on social media that the federal government’s Incident Response Group met over the weekend to review potential changes to “the threat landscape” in Canada and discuss ways to improve domestic security.
Frank Barredo, deputy chief of the Toronto Police Service, speaks outside the U.S. consulate during a news conference as Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, right, the officer in charge of criminal operations for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, looks on, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Consulate officials speak together as a Toronto forensic officer photographs bullet impact marks at the front U.S. consulate in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, officer in charge of criminal operations for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, speaks outside the U.S. consulate during a news conference in Toronto, Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto police officers investigate outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
A bullet mark is shown in the door at the U.S. consulate in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn /The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto police investigate the scene after the U.S. consulate was hit by gunfire in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Forensic Toronto police officer photographs bullet impact marks at the front U.S. consulate in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Police vehicles are parked by the U.S. consulate after it was hit by gunfire in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn /The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto police investigate the scene after the U.S. consulate was hit by gunfire in Toronto on Tuesday March 10, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
