March 19, 2024

Wildcat court-storming shakes up Jayhawks

Kansas State’s fans ignited a firestorm when they stormed the Bramlage Coliseum basketball court Monday night following the Wildcats’ 70-63 victory over the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks.

Up front, I want to tell you I believe in what K-State head football coach Bill Snyder says, “Act like you’ve been there before.” Meaning be good winners — enjoy the victory, but be respectful. As a K-State alumnus, I blame the university for not having the security in place as per planned. No one should be so out of control to go after players, coaches and other personnel of the opposing team or the home team.

Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby is publicly reprimanding Kansas State for failing to prevent Wildcats fans from pouring onto the court after the school’s upset victory over rival Kansas.

Charging on the court after a big win has been seen in college basketball for years. What touched off this debate?

A Kansas State student, who was later identified, wrote an apology and has been cited for disorderly conduct, body-checked Kansas forward Jamari Traylor after win over Kansas. I don’t condone some of the actions, including profane chants, by the Wildcat fans.

The wave of K-State fans storming the floor came so fast the teams couldn’t even shake hands. Both coaches, not just Kansas head coach Bill Self as has been reported over and over, were pinned against the scorer’s table.

Self and all the KU fans came out against court-storming. “We never do it at Allen Fieldhouse,” is the answer all my KU friends posted on Facebook. My Facebook newsfeed was blowing up even before the final seconds ticked off saying K-State had no class.

Well, in some ways I agree with that — seeing some of the signs that fans held up and the chants. Over the years, I’ve seen sports fans change — KU fans are just as mean and nasty to visiting teams and fans.

In my days at KSU in the 1970s, hot dogs rained down from out of the Fhog at Allen Fieldhouse at a K-State player the KU fans considered a “hotdog” of a player. K-State fans in turn sent blue and red chickens — how they got them in Ahearn Field House, I never could figure out — during player introductions.

But most of the complaints and war of words by KU fans on Facebook following K-State’s win Monday night were much the same when the Jayhawks lost at Oklahoma State this season. News report of the game had this line about the Jayhawks and Self in it, “a disappointing setback that included a second-half collapse, a frustrated coach and another raucous court-storming on the floor of Gallagher-Iba Arena.”

The problem with Self, who I respect, is that Kansas is not a typical Bill Self-KU team this year. The Jayhawks are up and down. Things have not gone to plan. So, when a team like K-State, which is really not very good this year, comes up big and pulls the upset, it is frustrating to Self. He got jostled around, and then left off steam.

K-State handed Iowa State a great opportunity but the Cyclones came up short Wednesday at home against Baylor. The Cyclones go to Manhattan Saturday. I’m cheering for a Wildcat victory, but I’m realistic — my Cats are not very good and very inconsistent.

Nothing is a given that is why we play the games. Anyone can beat anyone else on any given day.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com