Duke Coach Jon Scheyer Stands by Claims of Assault During UNC Court Storming Despite DA’s Disagreement

Durham, N.C. – Duke University men’s basketball head coach Jon Scheyer is maintaining his account of an alleged assault on members of his staff during a court-storming incident at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, despite a statement from the Orange and Chatham County District Attorney’s office finding no evidence to support those claims.

District Attorney Disputes Allegations

Following Duke’s 71-68 loss to UNC on February 7, Coach Scheyer stated that Duke staff members were “punched in the face” and injured as UNC fans rushed the court at the Smith Center. However, Orange and Chatham County District Attorney Jeff Nieman publicly refuted these claims on Monday, February 16, 2026, stating there is “zero evidence” of any assault or injury to Duke personnel. WFMY News 2 and WRAL News reported on the DA’s statement.

Nieman emphasized that his decision to speak out was not motivated by rivalry but by concern over the potential consequences of unverified accusations of violence. He cautioned that influential figures, like a major college basketball coach, should exercise discretion before making public statements that could incite further conflict. Duke Wire detailed Nieman’s criticism of Scheyer’s “reckless accusations of violence.”

Scheyer Defends His Account

Despite the District Attorney’s findings, Scheyer stood by his original statements following Duke’s 101-64 victory over Syracuse on Monday night, February 16, 2026. “I know what I saw, and I know what happened with our staff after the game,” Scheyer said, adding that he fully supports his staff and intends to move forward. The News & Observer also reported on Scheyer’s response.

History of Court-Storming Concerns

This is not the first time Coach Scheyer has expressed concern regarding court-storming incidents. Two years prior, Duke player Kyle Filipowski sustained a knee injury when fans rushed the court after a loss to Wake Forest. This incident led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to implement stricter fines for such occurrences. UNC was previously fined $50,000 for the February 7 incident.