• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Dissecting the Great Court-Storming Debate. What’s Next?

  • Court-storming has been front and center after Wake Forest fans injured a Duke player.
  • Some conferences fine schools, while others have softer punishments.
Cory Knowlton-USA TODAY Sports

With just a few weeks to go until March Madness engulfs sports fans, the court-storming debate has taken over the discord after Duke star Kyle Filipowski was injured when Wake Forest fans rushed the hardwood Saturday to celebrate the Demon Deacons’ 83–79 win. 

What can schools do to prevent raucous college kids from celebrating big wins in often-compact arenas not equipped with enough security? Monetary fines and other punishments vary from conference to conference, but they haven’t seemed to make much of a difference. Recent fines for court and field stormings in men’s basketball and football include:

  • $100,000: LSU basketball (beat Kentucky on Feb. 21)
  • $100,000: South Carolina basketball (beat Kentucky on Jan. 23)
  • $5,000: Santa Clara basketball (beat Gonzaga on Jan. 11)
  • $25,000: UCF basketball (beat Kansas on Jan. 10)
  • $100,000: Ole Miss football (beat LSU on Sept. 30, 2023)
  • $100,000: Missouri football (beat Kansas State on Sept. 16, 2023)
  • $250,000: LSU football (beat Alabama on Nov. 5, 2022)
  • $250,000: LSU football (beat Ole Miss on Oct. 22, 2022)
  • $100,000: Tennessee football (beat Alabama on Oct. 15, 2022)

But in the two most recent instances of court-stormers putting star players at notable risk, no fines were given out. The ACC doesn’t have a policy for court-storming fines, so Wake Forest was let off the hook. In a separate incident, Ohio State wasn’t penalized when a fan bumped into Caitlin Clark while rushing the court after the Buckeyes’ women’s basketball team beat Iowa last month, because the Big Ten doesn’t fine until a third offense.

Reactions to the Wake Forest–Duke situation have ranged from ESPN analyst Jay Bilas suggesting court-stormers be arrested to Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne saying home teams should have to forfeit the game. Whether any more incidents happen over the next few weeks, policy changes will no doubt be a major discussion point this offseason.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Chelsea

Chelsea Club World Cup Run Banks at Least $100M for Mark Walter..

The Blues will likely take home between $100 million and $120 million.

Has the WNBA Outgrown the Matinee Madness of Camp Days?

Caitlin Clark will return from injury in a Wednesday noon game.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
exclusive

Bipartisan Effort Mounts to Repeal Gambling Tax Hike in Trump Bill

The president signed the bill into law last week.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
TSU Hockey at Bridgestone

Tennessee State’s HBCU Hockey Ambitions Delayed at Least a Year

The school will not launch the first-of-its-kind program as intended.
A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
July 7, 2025

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
Louis, Missouri, UNITED STATES; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Nicholas DeGraves (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Boston University Terriers during the third period of the Frozen Four college ice hockey national semifinals at Enterprise Center
July 7, 2025

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State Commitment Cements College Hockey Supremacy

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State decision signals hockey’s rising stars now prefer college.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Nov 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Anthony Wilson Jr. (12) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.
July 7, 2025

Felix Ojo’s Agent Says Texas Tech Offered $5.1M At Start of Rev-Share..

Texas Tech secured Ojo with a seven-figure NIL commitment.
July 6, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Chaos Begins as Texas Tech Secures Five-Star OT

The Red Raiders spent more than $10 million in the winter transfer portal.
July 3, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About EA’s Return to College Basketball Video..

There hasn’t been a college basketball game in more than 15 years.
Ohio State
July 1, 2025

Collectives Funnel $20 Million to College Athletes on Last Day Before Revenue..

Collectives frontloaded payments just before the revenue sharing era begins July 1.