Images of students pouring out of the stands at the final buzzer to celebrate with players on the home team after a big win have long been part of college basketball. Usually, no one gets hurt.
But storming the court and the safety risks associated with it have received more scrutiny in the week since Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark collided with an Ohio State fan after the Buckeyes pulled off the upset at home.
There have been at least six more instances since the Clark incident, and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas on Saturday called for an end to the tradition. Bilas said during the “College Gameday” show that fans should never be allowed on the court, and his comments went viral.
“I know it will keep happening and accept it,” Bilas wrote in a text message to The Associated Press. “But it seems inevitable that something negative will happen, and we’ll act surprised when it was foreseeable.”
A Tulane fan was seen on video making contact with a Memphis player during a court storming in New Orleans hours after the Clark incident on Jan. 21. The Southeastern Conference levied a $100,000 fine against South Carolina after fans rushed onto the court after an upset of Kentucky on Tuesday. Fans also stormed the court at Oregon State on Thursday and at Iowa State, Richmond and Wyoming on Saturday.