Duke’s Kyle Filipowski Injured in Court Storming Incident: Should Court Storming be Banned?
In a shocking turn of events, Duke’s star player, Kyle Filipowski, was injured during a court storming incident after Wake Forest’s upset victory over the Blue Devils. The incident has reignited the debate on whether court storming should be banned in college basketball. While the sight of Filipowski wincing in pain as he left the court might seem like a clear indication that action needs to be taken, history has shown that court storming incidents often result in little change.
This is not the first time court storming has led to serious injuries. In 2004, high school senior Joe Kay suffered injuries that left him partially paralyzed and unable to play volleyball for Stanford. In 2013, NC State forward C.J. Leslie had to rescue a fellow student who was thrown from his wheelchair during a court storming incident. There have been numerous other incidents where players and fans have clashed, resulting in physical altercations and injuries.
Despite these incidents, administrators have consistently decided that the excitement and fun of court storming outweigh the risks. Even warnings from prominent figures in the sport have gone unheeded. Purdue’s Matt Painter had cautioned earlier this season that something bad was bound to happen, but his words fell on deaf ears. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark also expressed concern about the potential for serious injury after a collision with a fan, but her warning went unheeded as well.
The sad reality is that meaningful change will only come when someone suffers life-altering injuries on national television. While Filipowski was fortunate to escape with only a knee injury, Wake Forest’s lack of preparedness for the court storming is concerning. Schools need to take better precautions when facing top-ranked opponents or rivals. Hiring more security and having a plan in place to keep players safe should be a priority.
However, there is no easy solution that will satisfy everyone. Banning court storming altogether would sacrifice the spontaneity and fun that sets college basketball apart from other sports. One possible solution could be to delay court stormings long enough for opposing players and coaches to leave the court. This would require a significant deterrent for fans who rush onto the court prematurely.
Currently, the SEC fines schools for court storming offenses, but this has proven ineffective. Schools might consider increasing fines or implementing punishments such as playing home games in empty arenas, similar to European soccer. Individual fans could also be identified and punished by having their season tickets revoked or facing expulsion from school or even jail time.
While court storming is a beloved tradition in college basketball, it is not worth preserving if it continues to put players’ safety at risk. As Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes stated, “I don’t like court stormings. Never have. You just don’t feel safe.” It is time for schools and conferences to take action and prioritize player safety over tradition.