The wooden basketball court floor inside McCarthy Hall sustained some water damage this week after a fire sprinkler head turned on inside the building.

County emergency personnel and University of Kansas facilities staff responded to a fire alarm at 11 p.m. Wednesday at McCarthy Hall, KU spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said in an email. McCarthy Hall, 1741 Naismith Drive, is the on-campus apartment building for the KU men’s basketball team and other male students.

Brandmeyer Family Court, a half-court basketball facility, is one of the highlights of the new $11.2 million McCarthy Hall, which houses the Kansas men's basketball team.

A basketball had hit a sprinkler head in McCarthy Hall’s basketball court, causing water to flow onto the court, she said.

There was some water damage, but KU Student Housing did not have an estimate of its scope as of Friday afternoon, Barcomb-Peterson said.

McCarthy Hall has an enclosed half-court basketball court just off the lobby. It features a wooden floor and replicas of the national championship and “Beware of the Phog” banners that hang in Allen Fieldhouse.

The basketball team wasn't home that night. Players were in Kansas City, Mo., preparing to play in the Big 12 Tournament the following day.

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What in the world? "A basketball had hit a sprinkler head in McCarthy Hall’s basketball court, causing water to flow onto the court." You're kidding...right? I can not imagine such a silly design to leave a sprinkler head exposed in that kind of environment....?

Suzi, you are absolutely correct. There are plenty of alternate designs including caged heads, flush-mounted heads and even recessed heads with engineered projection spray patterns just to name a few.

Like you, I've been involved with engineering design for over 40 years. I have a hard time believing they would leave an exposed sprinkler head in that kind of environment. I suspect sabotage and 'they' don't want any rumors rolling around, which I can understand.

This housing facility has been cursed this year. Hopefully, next year's basketball team will have some self-discipline this year's team didn't.

You're absolutely right! Our players should be held to a much higher standard! Next time they are 45 miles away and someone throws a basketball to hit a sprinkler head that should have been covered and causes property damage, they should be suspended! Bunch of hooligans!

I was the Facilities Manager at an apartment complex in California that had fire sprinklers in the exterior hallways outside the apartment entrances. One evening a couple of guys playing catch with a football accidentally hit a sprinkler. Before I could get there it dumped over a thousand gallons of water in the hall. It doesn't take much to break a sprinkler head and things happen that are never forseen. We also had a furniture moving company knock off a head inside an apartment, ruined everything. I doubt that sabotage was involved, altho it is possible.

Will the Kansas City Star report that the absent KU players are under investigation for sending out nasty vibes!

You can't use the term Wooden Court in a college basketball headline without confusing people what the article is about

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