Iowa buys NCAA Tournament court to be installed at Carver-Hawkeye Arena

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa athletics department has purchased the official court used in the NCAA Houston Regional Elite Eight and will install it as the new playing surface at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In head coach Ben McCollum 's first season at the helm, Iowa men's basketball reached its first Elite Eight since 1987. The Hawkeyes' thrilling NCAA Tournament run included an upset over 1-seed Florida and a Sweet 16 win over rival Nebraska.

The current Carver-Hawkeye Arena court, which was last replaced in 2016, has reached a typical point in its life cycle for replacement, according to a university news release. The upgrade ensures a high-performance surface for student-athletes, while introducing a visual update inside the venue. More: How long will Ben McCollum stay at Iowa?

Big Ten schedule grades The arena's parquet layout will be replaced with a modern, single-surface design. While the overall look will remain similar to the previous floor, a few new design elements will be incorporated. The department will preserve the current court and is developing plans to create commemorative memorabilia for fans and supporters.

Here is an approximate timeline for the intallation of the new court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. May 18-21– Floor Arrives/Install May 22-25 – Sanding/Floor Painting Prep/Layout May 26-June 6 – Painting/Sealing/Drying Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco. com This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa buys NCAA Tournament court to install at Carver-Hawkeye Arena