"Worst court in Big Ten" "Looks 2X better": College hoops world reacts to Oregon Ducks' revamped basketball arena

Big changes await the Oregon Ducks in the 2024-25 season as they move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. In preparation for the transition, the Ducks have revamped their basketball court at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

The previous floor was brown with a silhouette of trees lining the perimeter, a nod to Oregon's "Tall Firs," the 1938-39 team that won the inaugural NCAA title. The revamped floor design has the natural wood shining through with the vibrant green likeness of 250 different evergreen trees of the region.

On Sunday, the Ducks posted pictures of the new-look court on their X account.

"Rooted deep in the woods. #GoDucks," the caption read.

Fans in the comments expressed their excitement at the new design as the previous one drew much ire from them. Some complained the design was darker than intended.

"Oh thank god. it looks 2X better," a fan wrote.

"A vast improvement, good job ducks," another wrote.

"Hopefully the trees aren’t that dark on TV, love the new look though," a fan commented.

"Looks better than the previous one," another wrote.

However, some fans did not agree with the choice of neon green and felt that the design was over the top.

"Official the worst court in the Big10," one fan wrote.

"Why does Oregon love being extra for literally everything bro. Whatever happened to a classic, simple look," another fan questioned.

"This should be illegal...watching a game played here is atrocious to say the least!," one wrote.

"Yall just can’t resist putting the tacky trees all over the court," a fan wrote.

With the new floor, Oregon Ducks retain their history while looking ahead to the future

Despite the new and upgraded design, the Oregon Ducks have ensured that they kept some elements of their past. The creative director of the project, Todd Van Horne, said:

“We got into looking at some of the things that came across really well and the relationship the trees had the first time around. We thought of how to do those things differently, and how to do them better.” (via Ducks Wire)

In remembrance of Mathew Knight, Nike co-founder Phil Knight's son, the new design features a “Soaring Ducks” formation on both ends of the court. This resembles the Air Force's “Missing Man” form, which it uses to honor a pilot lost in battle. The eldest of the Knight family, after whom the arena is named, died in a scuba diving accident in 2004. He was 34.

“He’s looking down at Eugene from the heavens and us here on Earth looking up to the heavens. You’re sitting in this meadow, and you’re seeing these trees around you and this environment that makes Eugene and Oregon such a special place,” Van Horne said.

After a second-round exit in the 2024 March Madness, the Oregon Ducks prepare for a better season while also braving the challenges that come with playing in a new conference.

What are your thoughts on the new design of the Oregon Ducks court? Share them in the comment section below.