Columnist calls for an end to court-storming following Kyle Filipowski incident
Following an upset over No. 8 Duke on Saturday, Wake Forest fans collided with Blue Devils center Kyle Filipowski, who suffered a knee injury. Could this incident spell the end of court storming in college basketball?
"Court storming is the fault of conferences that tolerate it, schools that allow it, fans who do it and television networks who glorify it. And it's the fault of the NCAA for never, and I mean ever, writing legislation to stop it," wrote Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star. "Could you do something about the court storming before someone gets hurt? Sorry: before someone else gets hurt?"
Filipowski — a potential first-round pick, per Tankathon — isn't the first star involved in a court-storming incident this season. On Jan. 21, Ohio State fans ran into Iowa guard Caitlin Clark after the Buckeyes shocked the Hawkeyes in a 100-92 win.
"I'm more concerned about the well-being of our guys," Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said after the 83-79 loss, via CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein. "When are we going to ban court storming? When are we going to ban that? How many times does a player have to get into something where they get punched, or they get pushed, or they get taunted right in their face?"
The NCAA and conferences must do something. At the very least, they should improve their security and have a plan.
David Cobb of CBS Sports pointed out that Iowa State added gates in front of its courts to keep students flowing in one direction rather than running all over the place. He added a reporter broke their leg after Cyclone fans bombarded the floor in a 2015 win against in-state rival Iowa.
While court storming is a part of the fabric of college basketball, it's fair to wonder whether it should continue, especially if people keep getting hurt.
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