McKale redesign has courtly look

"We're trying to brand the 'A,'" UA associate athletic director Steve Kozachik said, "instead of the word mark."

A floor-refinishing project costs about $20,000, and the school does it every year anyway. Repainting by the school's paint shop cost an additional $1,000, Kozachik said.

Here's a look at the three biggest changes to the new McKale Center playing surface:

Olson Court

The tribute to the former coach and his late wife remains in front of the UA bench, though the words "Olson Court" were placed in bold for this season.

The Wildcats have moved the nearby "Bear Down" from the corner of the baseline to in front of the scorer's table.

The Verizon sponsorship was not renewed, so its logo no longer adorns the floor. Kozachik said the school is trying to sign a new sponsor.

Pac-10 logo

The conference's new logo - and the mandate to place it on every playing surface - was the reason the Wildcats repainted the court.

The logo is white and navy blue, trimmed with red, and appears on both halves of the floor between the key and the three-point line. It will change next year.

"The conference is going to 12 teams," Steve Kozachik said. And the UA will have to paint again.

The paint

Athletic department employees, including associate athletic directors Steve Kozachik and Suzy Mason, met with men's basketball coach Sean Miller, athletic director Greg Byrne and others before the redesign. Byrne had the final say.

The decision to paint the key navy blue - it was naked wood before - came from Miller, Kozachik said.

"Sean wanted paint in the paint," he said.

The blue baseline reads "Arizona Wildcats" instead of the department's website address.

UA BASKETBALL KEY DATES

• Oct. 15: First day of practice

• Oct. 24: Red-Blue Game

• Nov. 14: vs. Idaho State, regular- season opener

• Dec. 30: at Oregon, Pac-10 opener