Duke basketball player injured as fans court storm, calls for ban after 'personal' incident

Duke men's basketball player Kyle Filipowski was injured after Wake Forest fans stormed the court in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Saturday. The Demon Deacons' 83-79 upset victory triggered the incident, with the No. 8-ranked Blue Devils center appearing to collide with a fan as he walked to the locker room. Duke coach Jon Scheyer said Filipowski sprained his ankle and called for a ban on court-storming, citing player safety. Recent incidents, including one involving Iowa senior Caitlin Clark, highlight the risk to players. Scheyer said he was disappointed his team lost but was more concerned about the players' well-being. "How many times does a player have to get into something where they get punched, or they get pushed, or they (get) taunted right in their face?" he added. Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes and director of athletics John Currie also condemned the incident and supported a ban. Filipowski told reporters he felt the collision was personal, saying: "I absolutely felt like it was personal. Intentional for sure." The Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips said the "safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority," calling for greater cooperation to ensure the well-being of players. The incident follows a similar court-storming incident in January when Iowa guard Caitlin Clark collided with a fan in Columbus, Ohio. Scheyer hopes Filipowski's status won't be affected by the incident, with the Blue Devils scheduled to play Louisville next on Wednesday.