Duke Star Kyle Filipowski Injured in Court Storming After Upset Loss to Wake Forest
In a shocking turn of events, the No. 8 Duke Blue Devils suffered an upset loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in an intense game that ended with a court storming by the home team’s fans. However, the celebration quickly turned dangerous when Duke star Kyle Filipowski was injured during the chaos.
The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum was filled with excitement as the game came to a close. As soon as the final buzzer sounded, Wake Forest fans rushed onto the court in jubilation. Unfortunately, amidst the frenzy, a fan sprinted towards Filipowski, who was walking off the court. In the commotion, Filipowski appeared to injure his knee while attempting to shove the fan out of his way.
Filipowski, a projected top-10 NBA Draft pick, was immediately assisted by his teammates and personnel who rushed to his aid. He was then taken to the locker room for further evaluation. The extent of his injury and his status going forward remain uncertain.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer expressed his concern and frustration with court stormings in his post-game interview. He called for a change and questioned why court stormings are still allowed in college basketball. “Flip sprains his ankle,” Scheyer said. “When are we going to ban court stormings?”
Filipowski himself addressed the incident, clarifying that he injured his knee. He also revealed that he had taken multiple hits during the chaos. “There’s some videos of me getting punched in the back. I absolutely feel like it was personal, intentional for sure,” he stated. The 20-year-old sophomore expressed his disappointment and emphasized that there was no excuse for the fans’ behavior.
Videos of the incident surfaced on social media, showing the moment Filipowski hurt his knee and a fan taunting him as they raced towards midcourt. The footage shocked viewers, highlighting the need for increased safety measures during court stormings.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Just last month, Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark collided with a court-storming fan after an upset against Ohio State. While Clark did not sustain a lasting injury, the incident raised concerns about the safety of players during these celebrations.
The game itself was a closely contested battle, featuring 14 ties and 14 lead changes. Wake Forest’s Hunter Sallis played a pivotal role in the Demon Deacons’ victory, scoring 29 points. The win snapped Duke’s five-game winning streak and solidified Wake Forest’s position in the NCAA tournament.
Both coaches, Jon Scheyer and Steve Forbes, acknowledged that the court storming went too far. Scheyer emphasized the need for change and expressed his frustration with the increasing frequency of court stormings this season. Forbes echoed his sentiments, stating that they would need to do a better job of handling such situations in the future.
Wake Forest’s athletic director, John Currie, also issued a statement expressing regret for the incident and acknowledging the need for improved postgame procedures. He agreed with Duke’s coach that more must be done to address the national phenomenon of court and field storming.
Court stormings have long been a part of college basketball culture, but incidents like these highlight the potential dangers they pose to players and fans alike. While the ACC currently does not sanction court stormings, this incident may prompt a reevaluation of their stance.
As the basketball community reflects on this unfortunate event, it is clear that changes need to be made to ensure the safety of players and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The conversation surrounding court stormings is likely to continue, with stakeholders seeking ways to strike a balance between celebration and safety.
