Duke coach Jon Scheyer is advocating for the Atlantic Coast Conference to take action to prevent court-storming incidents after star player Kyle Filipowski was injured during a recent game against Wake Forest. Filipowski collided with a fan, resulting in him experiencing soreness and needing ice on his knee. Scheyer emphasized the need for immediate measures to be implemented to ensure the safety of players and staff.
Filipowski did not undergo any internal imaging for his knee following the incident and his availability for the upcoming game against Louisville remains uncertain. Scheyer urged the ACC to establish a policy against court-storming, even with Duke having only a few games left in the regular season.
While the ACC mandates safety protocols for court-stormings, it does not typically impose fines on schools. Despite the incident at Wake Forest, the ACC has not indicated plans to penalize the school. The episode involving Filipowski has reignited discussions on the risks associated with court-storming, especially following previous incidents this season.
Other coaches, such as Alabama's Greg Byrne and Purdue's Matt Painter, have expressed concerns about court-storming and suggested potential consequences for teams in such scenarios. Painter emphasized the need for stricter rules to prevent these occurrences and called for NCAA intervention to address the issue.
Coaches like Bill Self of Kansas have highlighted the potential dangers of court-storming, citing the risk of physical confrontations between fans and players. Scheyer echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to protect student-athletes from such situations and prevent any potential harm.
The call for action to address court-storming incidents is gaining momentum among college basketball coaches, who are advocating for stricter regulations and enhanced security measures to safeguard players and prevent future injuries.
