Duke Coach Condemns Court-Storming Chaos After Loss to UNC

Scheyer says staff members 'got punched in the face' as fans rushed the court; UNC AD apologizes for incident

Feb. 8, 2026 at 2:55am

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Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer condemned the chaotic court-storming by North Carolina fans following the Tar Heels' last-second victory over the Blue Devils, saying his staff members 'got punched in the face' and his family had to fend off the crowd. UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham apologized for the incident, acknowledging that 'a number of people got knocked over' when fans rushed the court.

Why it matters

The safety of players and team staff during court-storming celebrations has long been a concern in college basketball. This incident at the heated Duke-UNC rivalry game highlights the potential for violence and injuries when passionate fans storm the court, raising questions about whether such celebrations should be banned or better controlled.

The details

After North Carolina's Seth Trimble hit a game-winning 3-pointer to defeat Duke 71-68, jubilant Tar Heel fans rushed the court to celebrate. However, officials had determined there was still 0.4 seconds left, so the fans had to be cleared before Duke could get one final play. When the clock hit zero, the fans stormed the court again, leading to the chaotic scene described by Scheyer.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday, February 8, 2026 following the Duke-UNC basketball game.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils basketball team.

Bubba Cunningham

The athletic director of the University of North Carolina.

Seth Trimble

The North Carolina Tar Heels player who hit the game-winning 3-pointer.

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What they’re saying

“I got staff members that got punched in the face. My family, pushing people away, trying to not get trampled. That's not what this game is about.”

— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

“When they rushed the court, a number of people got knocked over. But then we had to clear the court again. So when we normally have something like just rushing the court and the game is over, we do have a line by the benches to get people off safely.”

— Bubba Cunningham, Athletic Director, University of North Carolina

What’s next

UNC officials said they will review video footage to determine exactly what happened during the court-storming incident and identify any individuals who may have been injured or acted inappropriately.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for better crowd control and safety protocols around court-storming celebrations in college basketball. While fans should be able to celebrate big wins, the potential for violence and injuries requires universities to prioritize the wellbeing of players, staff, and spectators above all else.