Duke star big man Kyle Filipowski was at the center of a dangerous situation earlier this season when he was injured during a court-storming incident at Wake Forest, but on Saturday, it was Filipowski who put another in harm's way. In the first half of No. 9 Duke's 84-79 loss to No. 7 North Carolina, Filipowski stuck his leg out and tripped Tar Heels forward Harrison Ingram as he ran down the floor.
Ingram and Filipowski got tangled up fighting for a loose ball in the moments prior and as they collected themselves to get back in transition, Filipowski stretched and lifted his right leg in a clear attempt to impede Ingram. Ingram slipped to his hands then stumbled at midcourt before getting back up. He briefly looked around as if expecting a call from an official but no call was made.
Kyle Filipowski sticks his leg out and trips Harrison Ingram, then pretends to stomp his shoes and walk it off like he's injured pic.twitter.com/PooO0rQF0c
— Kyle Boone (@kyletheboone) March 10, 2024
Filipowski left the game for the bench shortly thereafter, and it appeared an official talked with him briefly before he took a breather. He denied tripping Ingram after the game.
"I'm not really too sure how that whole situation happened, to be honest," Filipowski said via the Associated Press. "I was really just getting up. My foot slipped. I don't know how I caught him. That's really all I've got."
Duke and tripping over the years have something of a synonymous relationship thanks to former embattled star Grayson Allen, who during his college career with the Blue Devils was caught multiple times tripping other players and even served a suspension for his antics.
Filipowski does not have a history of tripping, but with the incident going uncalled in the regular-season finale, it could trigger a review from the ACC that potentially affects the postseason. In 2022, Syracuse guard Buddy Boeheim appeared to punch an FSU player during the first round of the ACC Tournament, and while it went uncalled, the league reviewed the play after the game and suspended him one game, effectively ending his college career.
An absence of Filipowski for any time would be devastating for Duke. He leads the team this season in points and rebounds per game, and he finished Saturday night with a team-high 23 points -- 19 of which came in the second half.
