The debate over whether fans are allowed on the court has reignited since Caitlin Clark clashed with a fan who stormed the court after Iowa’s upset of Ohio State.
The Buckeyes defeated the Hawkeyes 100-92 in overtime on Sunday. But as Clark tried to leave the floor, she and a Buckeyes fan collided.
Clark was cared for by Ohio State players and the coaching staffs of both teams. She was helped back to the locker room, and she told reporters she was okay after the collision.
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Penn State Nittany Lions fans storm the court after winning a college basketball game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Bryce Joyce Center on January 16, 2024 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leighton/Getty Images)
Clark said she was “just getting hit” and was “a little scared”, but at that moment she understood “it was a good thing for the students” and “there was no problem at all”.
But some of the biggest names in college basketball say it’s time for court intrusions to end.
Jay Bilas, now a College GameDay analyst, said it will reach a point where it may be too late.
“The passion is amazing. I love the passion. Fans shouldn’t be on the court. Ever,” he said Saturday of the Arkansas fans who flocked to the court a few weeks ago after a win over Duke. I told you before.
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Bilas received many boos from the crowd, but remained resolute.
Fans flood the court after the Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Purdue Boilermakers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 9, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Steven Brancomb/Getty Images)
“If someone gets hurt, we’re going to take it seriously,” he said.
Bilas noted that fans rushing onto courts and fields are currently prohibited at the professional level.Chris Chambliss of the Yankees famously touched the ball near home plate. After his walk-off home run that sent New York to the World Series, as the fans who packed the field stole his at-bat.
“They protect their players, but they don’t do that in college,” Bilas argued.
Bilas made sure to mention an incident between Marcus Smart and a Texas Tech fan when Smart was playing college ball.
“Athletes shouldn’t be in the stands,” Bilas said.
Arkansas Razorbacks fans crowd the court after a win over the Duke Blue Devils at Bud Walton Arena on November 29, 2023 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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The Southeastern Conference fined the school $100,000 for storming the court, but that didn’t stop South Carolina fans from issuing fines after beating No. 6 Kentucky this week. A second violation will result in a penalty of $250,000, and subsequent violations will result in a penalty of $500,000.
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