Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has raised serious concerns over the safety of players following an incident at Clemson, where fans stormed the court after their team upset Duke in a thrilling college basketball game. Scheyer voiced his frustrations with the chaotic scene, which he felt put his players in a vulnerable position.
“It was a tough situation,” Scheyer said. “I didn’t want to say anything about it because I didn’t want to take anything away from the job Clemson did. They played a great game and had a huge win, but at the same time, it’s about making sure our players are safe.”
The Blue Devils were defeated by the Tigers in a game that was filled with intense moments, leading to the court-storming by Clemson fans. While these celebrations are often a part of college basketball’s electric atmosphere, Scheyer pointed out the risks associated with such post-game fan behavior.
Scheyer’s comments echoed a growing concern about the safety of players during court-storming incidents. He stressed that ensuring the safety of student-athletes should not be left to the responsibility of the coaches and that security measures need to be improved. “It shouldn’t be my responsibility in that moment,” he continued. “Security should have that taken care of.”
This is not the first time that Scheyer has raised concerns about the dangers of court-storming. Following an earlier incident where Duke’s Kyle Filipowski was injured during a court rush after a loss to Wake Forest, Scheyer called for a ban on the practice, citing the dangers posed to players in such chaotic environments.
As the debate about court-storming continues, Scheyer’s stance highlights the need for a balance between fan excitement and player safety, with an increasing call for universities to implement stricter policies to protect student-athletes during these celebrations.
