UCF yesterday “unveiled its new basketball court,” and large sections of the court “that previously were a shade of gold are now stained with black paint,” according to Paul Tenorio of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. The majority of the floor “appears to range from light gray to dark gray, depending on where a person is seated in the arena.” The lanes are “a darker, glossy shade of black and surrounded by a traditional gold wood color inside the 3-point arc.” UCF men’s basketball coach Donnie Jones said, "I think having this as an emblem and a mark is something kids like, recruits like, fans like. It's something you can point to." The university posted “numerous updates on Twitter and sent letters to members of national and local media outlets teasing ‘#OperationBlacktop.’” The court was “delivered via police escort on Friday before being installed on Sunday evening.” The marketing campaign “drew national attention, as did the ultimate unveiling.” Jones said that the team also will be “getting new uniforms" for the '13-14 season. UCF G Isaiah Sykes hinted that the prospective designs “include a pinstripe look” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/25). USA TODAY’s Jasmine Watkins wrote the color scheme “could either be a genius idea because of the nostalgia factor of playing on a real blacktop, or the worst idea since” the Univ. of Oregon installed a Nike-designed basketball court intended to look like a forest of fir trees (USATODAY.com, 6/22).
