On Wednesday night, an SEC game was played between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats, and one fan got involved in a rather impolite manner.
Competition in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) basketball league is usually fierce and physical. But when one supporter threw his arm around a Kentucky basketball player’s neck, things quickly went worse.
Kentucky player Cason Wallace was seen on camera landing in the first row of spectator seats after diving for a lost ball. Another fan from Florida, along with many others, seemed to have placed his arm over Wallace’s neck as he ran back into the action.
Florida fans getting physical with Kentucky tonight! pic.twitter.com/GCBdAuir7C
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 23, 2023
After this, play on the court was immediately halted. After reviewing the action, the row of spectators who had been participating was ejected from the stadium.
Wow. Florida fan wraps his arm around the neck of Kentucky’s Cason Wallace. No place for that, and that fan has no business being in this arena again. pic.twitter.com/JnqFgSlRuY
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) February 23, 2023
Several people flocked to social media to criticize the Florida fan for this behaviour, which has no purpose in college basketball.
Florida fans trying to take matters into their own hands tonight apparently
pic.twitter.com/6XQNrNSwzh— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) February 23, 2023
Florida should be absolutely embarrassed by those court-side fans. Not sure I’ve ever seen anything like that.
— Nick Coffey (@TheCardConnect) February 23, 2023
Wow, the Florida fans putting hands on Cason Wallace. That’s bonkers.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) February 23, 2023
That idiot Florida fan has to be tossed. At the very least. And he should never be allowed to attend another game.
Crossed a serious line there.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) February 23, 2023
NOT THE FLORIDA FANS PLAYING DEFENSE
— Lyndsey Gough (@LGonTV) February 23, 2023
Fans have the right to express their displeasure via actions like heckling and booing. No matter how unintentional the contact may be, it is never acceptable to physically contact another player.
The worst part for Florida is that this fan engagement was their finest defensive performance of the game.
After allowing 46 points in the second half, Florida lost to the Wildcats by a score of 82-74. Kentucky has now won three in a row, which might serve as a significant confidence boost before this weekend’s challenging SEC showdown against Auburn.
