When Iowa basketball announced it had purchased the floor the men's basketball team played on in their South Regional semifinal and final contests to build a new playing surface inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Hawkeye fans were excited. 

The current playing surface had already reached its decade-long lifespan and thus needed to be replaced anyway, but the palpable enthusiasm surrounding both Iowa men's and women's basketball made the possibility of a new floor even more exciting. 

Most wanted a modern version of the floor they grew up admiring during the 1990s heyday of Iowa basketball, but the general consensus was that the Hawkeyes had a golden opportunity to further make a splash into their basketball programs. 

The finished product was unveiled on June 9, but it probably didn't elicit the fan reactions Iowa hoped it would. The result was a slick, simple design that will bring positive aesthetics on TV, but yet still underwhelming at the same time.

Again, this isn't a complete disappointment. 

My favorite part of this floor is the actual wood surface. While Iowa's parquet floor was historic, it was simply too outdated for 2026. The new maple wood gives a very modern, eloquent shine that just makes it look like a great basketball floor. 

The second aspect that looks great is the "Block I" chainmail pattern on the baselines and sidelines. If it looks familiar, that's because it is. Quad City Times reporter Ethan Petrik did a good job pointing this out on X, but the most notable time this rare design made an appearance was during the 2017 "Woodshed" game that saw Iowa beat Ohio State 55-24 at Kinnick Stadium. 

The Hawkeyes wore the chainmail pattern on their alternate uniform numbers in that game, and the uniforms haven't been worn since. Iowa bringing this back on the hardwood is a nice touch, but outside of that, the Hawkeyes didn't do much else with this floor. 

The font on the baseline is an upgrade from the previous design (the photo for this article), but the spacing between the IOWA and HAWKEYES is nonexistent. When I back away from my computer, it looks like the two words are jammed together, something that's probably going to be the case on TV, too. 

Then comes the logo and colors. Iowa opting for a different logo at center court was a fun conversation, but the Hawkeyes had to keep the Tigerhawk there for branding purposes.

That's fine, but some additional logos to the floor would've been a perfect addition, specifically inside the three point arc and near the paint. The logo that fits the best here would've been the classic IOWA logo that uses a basketball as the "O."

That logo was popular in the '90s and perfectly fits what men's basketball coach Ben McCollum is trying to recapture in Iowa City. A little touch like that would've made this floor have character, something this floor lacks. 

But most of all, Iowa's new hardwood needed to remove the black on the baselines and sidelines and replace it with the gold that adorned the court during the glory days of Hawkeye basketball.

Some would say that look is out of style today, but it could've easily be replicated into a modern design.

Iowa has basically featured the same floor since Fran McCaffery took over the men's program in 2010, so expecting it to drastically change it isn't surprising. 

But if the Hawkeyes were to make an overhaul, now is the time. Who knows if there's ever a period where Iowa fans are this excited about both basketball teams again. 

The new floor isn't bad, but it will be chalked up as a missed opportunity. 

Looking for some cool Hawkeye swag to wear during the summer months? Look no further! HawkeyeRoundtable.com will be giving away prizes to lucky members throughout the summer and all you have to enter is follow these very easy and quick (under a minute) instructions to join. 

Click here to join the contest! 

HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]