UNC fined $50K by ACC for court storming after win over Duke :: WRAL.com

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) on Sunday informed the University of North Carolina that it is fining the school after students stormed the court of the Dean Smith Center following the Tar Heels’ 71-68 win over the Duke Blue Devils Saturday night.

According to the conference, the school violated the league’s event policy, which they say is designed to protect the safety and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans.

The ACC implemented fines for storming the field
or court this year, a move that came, in part, due to a February 2024
court storm at Wake Forest. Duke star Kyle Filipowski was injured in
that storm.  

The conference said the school was fined $50,000 for the court storming.

UNC fans stormed the court twice Saturday night, once after Seth Trimble hit the go-ahead three-pointer with .4 seconds remaining, forcing officials to clear the court to resume the game, and again after the game officially ended.

In response, UNC officials said they accepted the fine, but said the school followed proper protocols to get Duke players, staff and officials off the floor safely and considered the matter closed, adding that they’re looking forward to the rest of the season.

“We will continue to review our protocols to provide the highest measures of safety in the event fans rush the court,” UNC officials said.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said that Blue Devils staff members were punched in the face and his family feared for their safety after the game.

“I got staff members that got punched in the face,” Scheyer said. “My family [was] pushing people away, trying to not get trampled. That’s not what this game is about. You give them all the credit in the world. It’s not about the game, but obviously that was a scary ending and this rivalry is not about that.”

According to the university, a Duke staff member sufferend an injury, was treated and is recovering. The university did not provide specifics about the staffer’s injuries, adding that they had no further information available.

Schools face fines of $50,000, $100,000 and $200,000 per offense from the ACC that will accumulate through two seasons in football and basketball. Schools are expected to have a plan to get opposing teams and personnel off the court safely.

According to the ACC, all fines accrued by the policy are sent to the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Fund, which they say benefits ACC student-athletes pursuing graduate education.