An SEC matchup between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats took place on Wednesday night, and one fan decided to get involved in a very classless way.
Physicality is always a staple of competitive SEC basketball. However, one fan took things way too far when he decided to put his arm around the neck of a Kentucky basketball player.
Video emerged of the incident where Kentucky guard Cason Wallace fell into the front row of seats while diving for a loose ball. As he tried to run and get back into the play, a Florida fan appears to put his arm around Wallace’s neck, among other fans who appeared to try and grab him.
Florida fans getting physical with Kentucky tonight! pic.twitter.com/GCBdAuir7C
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 23, 2023
The action was quickly stopped on the court after this incident. The play was reviewed, and the fans in that row who were involved were subsequently removed from their seats and kicked out of the arena.
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
This obviously has no place in college basketball and many took to social media to blast this Florida fan.
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
Things like heckling and booing are more than fair to come from fans. However, it very clearly crosses a line when you put your hands on a player, whether it is inadvertent or not.
Unfortunately for Florida, this interaction from the fan was perhaps the best defensive effort that anyone from Florida produced in the game…
The Wildcats got the final laugh in this matchup, defeating the Gators 82-74 after Florida allowed 46 points in the second half. This marks the third consecutive win for Kentucky, which may be a huge momentum builder ahead of another tough SEC matchup against Auburn on Saturday.
[The Field of 68 on Twitter, Kentucky.com] Photo Credit: ESPN
