South Carolina faced swift consequences from the SEC after the exuberant court storming that followed their remarkable 17-point victory over No. 6 Kentucky on Tuesday night. The SEC imposed a $100,000 fine on South Carolina for the celebratory rush onto the court at Colonial Life Arena.
The Gamecocks’ dominant 79-62 win over the Wildcats marked a historic moment in the program’s history, representing their largest margin of victory against a top-10 team. The victory was secured by South Carolina’s impressive performance in the second half, where they maintained their lead and effectively neutralized the 7-foot-2 Croatian standout, Zvonimir Ivišić.
The SEC has actively sought to discourage court storming in recent years, implementing stricter fines last spring. For a first offense, schools now face an automatic $100,000 fine, escalating to $250,000 for a second offense, and a substantial $500,000 for subsequent violations. While the Big 12 also imposes fines, the penalties are comparatively less severe — UCF received a $25,000 fine earlier this month after defeating Kansas.
Court storming, a time-honored tradition in college sports, has come under scrutiny following recent incidents. A Tulane fan was captured on video pushing Memphis star David Jones during a court storm in New Orleans, and an Ohio State fan collided with Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark after the Buckeyes’ triumph over No. 2 Iowa. The latter incident, in particular, raised safety concerns as both Clark and the fan were forcefully knocked to the ground, though Clark emerged unharmed with assistance off the court.
Despite the hefty fine, the Gamecocks are likely to view it as a small price to pay for a significant milestone. With a 16-3 record, they are positioned as a strong contender for the NCAA tournament in March. Their upcoming matches include hosting Missouri on Saturday and facing No. 5 Tennessee on the road next week.
