Long Beach State men’s and women’s basketball will be led by familiar faces this season. Dan Monson is in his 12th season as men’s coach, and has six seniors this season. Women’s coach Jeff Cammon is entering his eighth year at LBSU, and the majority of his young roster is back. However, their surroundings will look a little different in 2018-19. LBSU athletic director Andy Fee wants them to look more like Long Beach with new uniforms and a new floor design at Walter Pyramid.
“What I love about Long Beach is the grit,” Fee said. “The determination and blue-collar attitude this city is known for — that’s what we want the floor and new uniforms to reflect.”
The new uniforms will be released in a few months, but the darker stain and design is already on the Walter Pyramid floor, and the uniforms will follow that theme. For the first time since the arena opened in 1994, the iconic “LB” logo is on the center court circle.
The rebrand of the floor also includes darker black borders, a pyramid water mark and the new “BE/\CH” logo under the free throw lines. Overall, reaction from fans has been positive, despite their affinity for the palm trees that were on the floor for the last six years.
“A big part of it, as we were restructuring (men’s basketball coach Dan Monson’s) contract, was to bring a brand new, fresh feel,” LBSU Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Rob Clark said. “Having the LB on the center of the court is a big deal. It helps us align our two biggest brands, men’s basketball and baseball.”
The first official competition on the new stained floor will be the women’s volleyball home opener on Aug. 28 against Seattle. LBSU also plans on having new hand rails installed by the beginning of basketball season.
“These new uniforms, and the floor, show that we’re different and reflect who we are,” Clark said. “When you step on that court, you’re going to battle with Long Beach.”
