On the morning of February 23, Kansas State basketball was a mess. The team was on track to finish the season with a losing record, cries for head coach Bruce Weber’s dismissal were louder than ever and optimism for the program was at a low point. As K-State prepared to take on their higher ranked arch rival, The University of Kansas, the outlook seemed bleak. K-State and KU fans alike chalked the game up as a win for the Jayhawks before the game had even begun.

But that night, something special happened. In sports, it’s sometimes referred to as “the magic factor.” K-State came out of the gates more motivated than ever, and played perhaps their finest game of the year. When the final buzzer sounded, the Wildcats shocked the nation by coming out victorious 70-63. As expected, K-State fans in stands rushed the court in waves. On the surface, it seemed like the typical college basketball celebration.

Looking at the situation closer, however, controversy and chaos abounded. Fans surrounded the Kansas players, some deciding to bump and taunt them. KU coach Bill Self found himself pinned in a corner, and one Jayhawk assistant coach resorted to putting a student in a headlock. Unsportsmanlike conduct was an issue that night.

This brings to light an issue that has long been debated in college basketball. Should fans be allowed to storm the court?

Being able to storm the court and celebrate with the team is a privilege given to fans. In order to have privileges, you must abide by the rules and be responsible.The responsibility of the fans in this situation was to carry themselves in a respectful manner. While many stayed true to this principle, there were others that did not. Once the idea of storming the court becomes more about taunting your opponent than appreciating the victory of your team, it’s gone too far. Sportsmanship is an important component of any sport. If a K-State player were to have taunted the KU bench during the game, they would have been punished by a technical foul. If players are to be held to certain standards of sportsmanship, so too should the fans.

At the same time, that’s not to say that storming the court should be done away with entirely. In most instances, it’s a harmless way for fans to celebrate a win and to have a good time. The whole point of watching sports is to be entertained after all. If it’s done the right way, it should not be a problem.

To the credit of K-State, later in the week the university prohibited any spectator to approach the court following the team’s home upset of Iowa State. This was handled correctly. While court storming hasn’t been officially banned at Bramlage, fair and reasonable punishment was enforced. It should come as a reminder to not just K-State fans, but to college athletics fans across the entire nation, to be good sports.