Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says he’s a fan of tournament court’s ‘profound statement’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - As the Big 12 Tournament turns to the men’s portion of activities this week in Kansas City, league commissioner Brett Yormark spoke to reporters Tuesday on all things related to the league.

Mixed into a press conference in which Yormark spoke on the future of the conference tournament in Kansas City, the league’s plan to go back to 18 conference basketball games rather than 20, and more, Yormark said he was a fan of one of the most controversial debates on the internet over the last week: The Big 12 Tournament court.

“That court isn’t about me,” Yormark said. “It’s about our student-athletes. When I first got here it was all about modernizing and contemporizing our brand, connecting to culture and getting on the consciousness of current and future student-athletes. And that’s what we’re doing.”

The court, which features the roman numerals for 12 all across the court, became a social media talking point during last week’s women’s tournament and continued Tuesday during the first day of action for the men.

Internet personality Barstool Big Cat tweeted during Tuesday’s First Round game between Colorado and TCU that the court looked like a designer bag.

“The Big 12 holding their tournament on top of a Louis Vuton bag is a brutal watch,” he said.

Others joked there could be financial compensation for viewers who subject their eyes to the court for hours of watching basketball games.

Yormark claimed players who took the floor in the women’s tournament came up to him with rave reviews of the floor.

“They took selfies with it, they loved it,” Yormark said. “Today I got here very early, Iowa State practiced and the entire team said ‘love it.’ I think it’s aspirational. That’s our stage, and we wanted to make a profound statement. I think we did and I love it. Listen, in life you never get it perfectly correct, but I think the people that matter most that are weighing in really love it.”

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.