The maple hardwood that makes up the courts at the men's and women's Final Four is part of basketball's foundation.

That wood – hard maple – is a thread connecting seemingly everything in basketball. Big shots. Epic games. Crushing losses. The highest levels of NBA and international play, through college ...

He revisited his old stomping grounds. That wood – hard maple – is a thread connecting seemingly everything in basketball. Big shots. Epic games. Crushing losses. The highest levels of NBA and ...