I've been practicing in a basketball court too. I always been able to ride facing backwards easily (sitting on handlebars, facing the rear, pedalling backwards). It's strange riding backwards like that is so much easier than facing the right way and going backwards.

I think the hardest part is the responsiveness of turning the wheel. It's easy to over turn it, you really only need to move it slightly. I can go about 10 feet further each time I practice.