Jon Scheyer Walks Back Postgame Comments After UNC Court Storming Incident
Saturday night’s Duke-North Carolina game had all the ingredients of a classic: two blue-blood programs, a raucous Dean Smith Center crowd, and a rivalry that never disappoints. But after the final buzzer, the focus shifted from the hardwood to what happened once the fans flooded it.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer didn’t mince words in his postgame press conference. He expressed serious concern for the safety of his players and staff during the on-court chaos that followed UNC’s win, saying, *"I got staff members that got punched in the face.
My family pushing people away, trying to not get trampled." * For a moment, the conversation moved away from the game itself and zeroed in on the aftermath - and the safety implications of court storming.
But just two days later, Scheyer’s tone changed.
Speaking on Monday during his weekly ACC media availability, Scheyer clarified his initial remarks, saying that no one on his staff was actually punched. Instead, he explained that one staff member had a bloody lip and looked “disheveled” after being caught in the crowd surge, not from a direct act of violence.
"Yeah so, he's fine... He's fine," Scheyer said.
*"But after the game, what happened was I came back in the locker room and I see he's got a bloody lip and he's disheveled and he didn't know what happened, he got trampled on the floor." *
That’s a significant shift from what was initially described. And to Scheyer’s credit, he acknowledged the heat-of-the-moment nature of his first comments.
*"That was my main concern after the game and that's why I said what I said. It was not a good situation.
But he's doing better, he's fine. Ready to move on."
This isn’t about finger-pointing - it's about the reality of what can happen when thousands of fans pour onto the court in a matter of seconds. Scheyer doubled down on his broader point: the safety of players, coaches, staff, and families has to be a priority, especially in environments as emotionally charged as a Duke-UNC showdown.
*"I'm a big boy, can take losing. Great college game, Carolina played great.
But yeah, he's doing better." *
That final note is important. Scheyer made sure to give North Carolina credit for the win. And while the rivalry is as fierce as it gets, he didn’t attempt to discredit the Tar Heels’ performance on the court.
Still, the incident serves as another reminder of the hazards that can come with court storming. It’s one thing to celebrate a big win - it’s another when that celebration puts people in harm’s way. Whether someone was punched or trampled, the takeaway remains the same: safety matters, and schools must continue to find ways to manage these moments better.
As for the staff member involved, there’s no name, no further details, and that’s okay. What matters is that they’re reportedly doing better - and hopefully, this becomes a learning opportunity for everyone involved.
Court stormings are part of college basketball’s fabric - spontaneous, emotional, unforgettable. But they can’t come at the expense of safety.
Scheyer’s initial comments may have missed the mark, but the underlying concern is real. This isn’t about rivalry drama.
It’s about making sure the people who make these games possible - players, coaches, staff, and yes, even families - can walk off the floor in one piece.