Duke men’s basketball star Kyle Filipowski suffered an injury during the chaotic moments following Wake Forest’s shocking 83-79 victory over the eighth-ranked Blue Devils in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Saturday. The incident marked the second instance of athlete-fan collisions on a college basketball court within the past month.
As the buzzer sounded, jubilant Wake Forest fans surged onto the court to celebrate their team’s upset win over Duke. Filipowski, a sophomore center for the Blue Devils, appeared to collide with a fan as he made his way to the locker room and was assisted off the court afterward.
Following the game, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer expressed concern for the well-being of his players, particularly Filipowski, who was diagnosed with a sprained ankle. Scheyer also called for a ban on court storming due to the increased danger posed by fans rushing the floor as soon as the buzzer sounds, rather than waiting for a few moments after.
“How many times do players have to endure being punched, pushed, or taunted right in their faces? It’s a dangerous thing,” Scheyer stated. He went on to mention recent court-storming incidents as reason for his proposed ban and expressed disappointment that Wake Forest’s impressive win should not be overshadowed by the incident.
Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes echoed Scheyer’s sentiments, agreeing with the calls to ban court storming due to safety concerns. Filipowski finished the game as Duke’s top scorer with 17 points.
In a similar incident earlier this year, Caitlin Clark, a senior guard and the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball for the University of Iowa, collided on the court with a fan following her team’s loss to Ohio State. The fan, holding a cell phone in the air, appeared to bump into Clark as they made their way across the court.
Scheyer expressed frustration that fans were now storming the court before the buzzer even sounded, leading to multiple incidents involving his team this season. He reiterated his belief that banning court storming was necessary to ensure the safety of players on both teams.
Duke fell to a record of 21-6 following the loss, while Wake Forest improved to 18-9. The Blue Devils are next scheduled to play on Wednesday at home against Louisville.
Filipowski spoke with WFMY News following the game, stating that he felt the collision was intentional and personal. “I felt a bunch of hits on my body,” he explained. “This one was the worst of them. I absolutely felt like it was personal. Intentional for sure.”
No comment has been received from Duke, Wake Forest, or the Atlantic Coast Conference regarding the incidents and the possibility of a ban on court storming.
