YSU acquires hoops from Final Four

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State athletics department has acquired the hoops from the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four and will install them at the Beeghly Center.

“The acquisition of these two basketball hoops is another important step in the enhancement of the Beeghly Center,” associate athletics director Rick Love said. “We want the Beeghly Center to be the best place in the Horizon League to play basketball, and we feel this gets us closer to that goal.”

The baskets, attained through an agreement with Spalding, are Spalding Spring-Assisted Main Court A10s Portable Backstops. These backstops are equipped with a regulation Superglass Pro Backboard, Slum-Dunk Precision 180 Goal, E-Z Bolt Backboard Padding and Custom Frame and Padding colors.

The hoops were used for practices Friday, both semifinals Saturday, practices Sunday and the national championship game Monday night when North Carolina defeated Michigan State, 89-72, at Ford Field in Detroit.

After the game, the hoops were shipped to Youngstown and were scheduled to arrive today.

Over the last five years, renovations to the Beeghly Center have included a new surface to Dom Rosselli Court, a new weight room, a remodeled men’s and women’s basketball coaches suite, remodeled men’s basketball locker room, new YSU Athletics Hall of Fame plaques, retired numbers and NCAA tournament team displays, a renovated Courtside Coaches Court and various painting projects.