Louisville selling off Final Four court to fund fight against cancer

Northwestern Mutual purchased the court used for the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta and has donated it to the University of Louisville.

The Georgia Dome floor will be turned into souvenir pieces for fans and fund the fight against pediatric cancer.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino, a representative from Northwestern Mutual and Thomas D. Kmetz, Kosair Children's president, have planned a news conference Tuesday to provide more details.

For the first time in 2012, NCAA corporate partner Northwestern Mutual also bought the New Orleans Final Four court.

The University of Kentucky auctioned off 300 12"x"18" panels with proceeds benefiting local hospitals — each featured the UK logo, was individually numbered and came with a certificate of authenticity — while coach John Calipari kept a portion in place for the Wildcats' new Rupp Arena locker room.

Lintner also writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal, a Gannett property.