Coach K, Mason Plumlee talk court storming safety after Virginia loss
Following Duke’s 73-68 loss to Virginia on Thursday night, the Cavaliers’ student section rushed onto the court as soon as the final buzzer rang, giving neither team ample time to prepare for the masses that flocked to the hardwood...
“Just get our team off the court, and our coaching staff, before students come on,” Krzyzewski said.
The two key issues—players’ and staff safety and players’ reactions—seemed to be ignored by the Virginia security, as fans were allowed to rush the court from all angles, including the Duke bench’s side...
There also is another variable in the court-storming safety equation—the reaction of Duke players. It’s potentially volatile for the players to be in that situation following an unexpected road loss in which emotions were running high.
“If they run at us, it’s fair game. We’re just protecting ourselves,” senior Mason Plumlee said...
He's right. There should be something done to get the losing team off the court asap. It is a matter of time until something bad happens between fans and opposing players. It would be wise to put safety measures in place beforehand.
I believe there were two incidents in the late 90s/early 2000s involving Nebraska football and Miami (OH) football players walking off the field as the crowd stormed it. In both cases a player, having lost, ended up striking fans (of course they were drunk) who were charging the field and intimidating them.
I might sound like an old man, but fans - you didn't win the game. You cheered but your participation rarely changes things. Celebrate in the stands - you don't need to rush the court, particularly more than once every few years.
And yes, GET OFF MY LAWN!
there was another unfortunate incident with a Stanford band member and a trombone. Very tragic.
Agreed.
Besides, rushing the court for a regular season game is for amateurs, it's a bush league move.
At Duke we only rush the court for a national title.
#actlikeyouvebeentherebefore
I completely agree with what Coach K said, even if it was brought up because they lost. The players are in danger, and so are the fans (I wouldn't want an angry Mason Plumlee punching me out of self defense).
Plumlee how to make a fist with his thumb on the outside. Something tells me the only altercation he's ever been involved in was a conflict with his family butler about eating cookies before dinner.
Hey I am sure he knows how to slap open fist!
Agree with Coach K but not with Plumlee. No one should become "fair game" to hit or whatever he was saying by coming out to celebrate their win unless it's actually done in a threatening way.
Still, fans are stupid and this will lead to cheap shots on players of the losing team a la Malice at the Palace.
Bad analogy - if I remember correctly the Pacers were whipping the Pistons that night at the Palace and the game hadn't even ended yet. That was more a fan taking a cheap shot at an a-hole who had just cheap shot Ben Wallace and then decided to take a nap on the scorer's table. Though still ill-advised, it's very different from taking cheap shots at a losing player who is simply trying to walk off the court in disappointment.
The Artest foul on Wallace wasn't a cheap shot. It was a typical foul but Wallace was pissed they were losing, so he went after Artest (Metta World Peace now I suppose).
It may not have been a cheap shot in the purest sense of the word, but it definitely wasn't a typical foul either, especially given the situation of the game. The Pacers were leading by 15 with 45 seconds left and Artest hammered Wallace in the head/neck area when he went up for a layup. I'll give you that Wallace was pissed he was losing, but Artest was definitely antagonizing.
But if it was the other way around, most people would say Wallace did the right thing. You never give up an easy lay up, no matter what the situtation.
Nope
About Ben's momma, who died a few days prior, and Ben had just returned from her funeral.
Fans rush the court all the time. Deal with it coach K.
I recall many people, including Duke fans, hating on Roy Williams for sending his players into the locker room early last year against FSU when they got blown out there. Doesnt seem like a bad idea now.
I also agree with Plumlee. You have to protect yourself. Im not saying to deliberately go hit someone, but there are thousands of fans rushing the court in every direction, so you have to be ready for anything.
Look at the nut case fan from Iowa St who tried to go after Bill Self after Kansas beat them in OT. People are crazy and you have to be on your guard at all times.
Is a must, but it's a sort of a spare of the moment thing that you MAY have to do depending on hiw the fans are, but not all fans are like that so you can't say it just do it, and then explain why after the fact.
Wha? Spell much? (you're, spare, hiw)
And if not, IDGAF
your avatar, your spelling or the fact that you almost have enough points to make your own content.
I'm drafting him in our "most likely to be banned" MGoDeadPool.
But I get to draft Mr Rager.
Rager has enough history that I think they might cut him slack a little longer, but I was hoping he'd slide to the second round.
I'm just hoping that phork is still on the board in the 4th round, where Brady Quinn belonged.
so you can't say it just do it
I don't know about others, but I thought the issue with UNC last year was that he sent all his coaching staff and starters off the court, and walked out leaving 5 random bench players by themselves
There needs to be some form of "organized chaos" in these situations. Isn't this the reason Duke took their players to the locker room early a year or two ago?
“You don’t know what’s gonna happen,” Plumlee said. “Guys shouldn’t be defenseless. Half these people are drunk, you don’t know what’s gonna happen.”
Protect yourself and the team.
Oh, wait...
Even though I agree with him, doesn't it seen like he always finds something to complain about after a loss?
He didn't have many complaints when Michigan upset #4 Duke in '08.
Does not discount the fact he is very smart. Court storming is great... But schools should pay a hefty fine for not allowing the opposing team to exit safely.
Court stormings are pretty easy to predict within the last few minutes. Security should be able to keep fans away and surround the away team quickly to allow them to get off the court safely. I am amazed at how well student athletes have conducted themselves in this chaos. There are thousands of drunk students yelling at you after a tough loss and they are man enough to walk away.
Being Duke, this happens more frequently after an away loss. This season alone it has happened 4 times.
Duke is still a bunch of bitches.
Don't we all just insert that caveat before every morsel of Duke-related news?
Man I need a drink.
......and then storm the court!
Fans would get straight worked by the losing team if they rushed the court, it would be a mess (but it is the NBA...)
Hell, I wouldn't rush the court. Those guys have guns in their lockers and they're willing to use them on teammates... just think what they'd do to fans.
~Herm
Typical Duke mentality; they're special and different rules apply to the Blue Devils than everyone else. I remember reading about some grad students somewhere who were complaining that they were being heckled for wearing Duke gear in the home team's student section. They wrote something to the effect of "I have never been so insulted in my life, this would never occur at a place like Duke." Two weeks later, the Duke student section is chanting "How's you Grandma" at an opposing player who's grandmother had just died.
-Herm
Duke fans go way past the boundaries in an attempt to be clever. Many hits, but a few misses along the way.
If you associate with a top program you will be hated by EVERYONE. Duke fans should be used to it by now (unfortunately).
Also... *whose. I'm embarassed. C'mon Herm, this is Michigan, get it together.
~Herm
Looks like Coach K is tired of his team being the foil for so many celebrations this year. He should be thankful that his team is that high on the food chain. It's like what Michigan is seeing this year; every team plays their "NCAA Tournament Championship Game against them," and their fans storm the court when they win.
It beats the crap out of being irrelevant.
It is just a matter of time before someone seriously gets injured. The NCAA needs to step in with huge fines and penalties.
Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't brought this up before. During the broadcast of the game last night, the announcers highlighted the fact that following the past 33 road losses Duke has sustained, the crowd rushed the court 27 times (I apologize if my exact numbers are off, but this is close). In other words, when you're an elite level basketball program, you see this a lot over the years. No wonder they're sick of it.
Of course, if Duke were not almost universally hated by opposing fans, it would probably happen a bit less.
Actually I am surprised this was a big deal. I watched the end of the game and the security guards seemed to "wall off" the fans from the players just fine. There must have been some insecure areas that didn't show on TV but it looked like they were doing fine to me.
stoming is lame and has gotten entirely out of control. Penn State was entitled to rush the floor when the beat us, that was a monumental upset. Virginia is a tournament team, so is Minnesota. Those are not court-storming wins. It is an annoying fad and I would like to see it reserved for the Penn State type moments when teams are truly like "Holy shit, did we just win that game?" Not for a team with a 18-9 record destined for the tournament beats any random top 10 team.
I disagree with you. Penn St. is in the B1G. Virginia is in the ACC. They should win games, even over highly rated teams. This was not North Texas taking down Indiana. Unless its a championship clinching game why storm? It is unnecessary. Celebrate a la most football games.... Players head to the students in the stands!
Also UVA was favored. It was a big win for UVA but come on, it was a game you were expected to win. No court storm necessary.
Duke fans have NEVER stormed the court, eh Coach K? These were team MANAGERS fergodssakes! LOL