Following a thrilling victory over No. 4 Alabama, Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates took proactive measures to prevent a court storming incident by the fans. The Tigers secured a 110-98 win in front of a packed crowd of 15,061 at the Mizzou Arena on Wednesday night.
During the final moments of the game, with just 1.5 seconds remaining, Gates called a timeout and addressed the audience through the public address system, urging them to refrain from rushing the court. He emphatically stated, 'Please, do not rush the court! Please, do not rush the court!' This move was in stark contrast to a previous game against then-No. 1 Kansas, where a court storming incident occurred.
In the game against Kansas, Gates had also called a late timeout to allow the Jayhawks' bench personnel to exit the court safely. He had openly criticized Missouri for making an announcement instructing fans not to rush the court during that game.
As a consequence of the court storming incident against Kansas, Missouri was fined $250,000. A second offense could result in a steeper fine of $500,000. In the context of Southeastern Conference play, any fines imposed are paid to the opposing school.
These incidents highlight the importance of maintaining order and safety during post-game celebrations. Gates' proactive approach in addressing the fans directly serves as a reminder of the consequences associated with court storming and the need to uphold sportsmanship and respect in college basketball.
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