Duncan Powell committed an egregious foul during the college basketball game between Providence and St. John’s on Saturday. The fifth-year senior had to be forcibly restrained during the ensuing scuffle, which required police intervention.
However, his haircut might be even worse than his temper.
Many college basketball fans learned of Powell for the first time because of his violent foul. They will never forget him because of his Dallas-inspired drop shag.
Duncan Powell started a college basketball brawl between Providence and St. John’s.
The incident took place during the second half. Red Storm forward Bryce Hopkins got out in front of the Friars’ defense on a fast break with only one man to beat.
That man was Powell. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward did not even try to play defense. He threw his entire body into Hopkins on the way up and swung (loosely) at the ball on his way down. It was violent.
As you could imagine, St. John’s did not appreciate the foul.
Hopkins went after Powell as soon as he got to his feet. Players from both teams immediately got involved with trying to separate the two but their efforts were not successful. Powell broke loose and tried to swing on Hopkins. Hopkins put his hands on anyone who tried to stop him.
It took multiple players, coaches and officials to eventually break things up. Multiple police officers ran onto the court to prevent further escalation. Here is how it went down in real time:
— fieldof72 (@Field_of_72) February 14, 2026
If we’re being completely honest, the brawl could’ve been a lot worse. Only Hopkins and Powell got involved with the violence. Everyone else around them tried to stop them. Still, it was not great.
Multiple players on both teams were ejected after 19 minutes of review. Two players on Providence were thrown out of the game for fighting. Four players on St. John’s were tossed for leaving the bench.
Duncan Powell bid adieu from the tunnel on his way off of the court.
Powell bids the crowd adieu from the tunnel after being ejected. https://t.co/qS3S6VjinW pic.twitter.com/w0zFkgip9a
— Mike Stanton (@projomike) February 14, 2026
Credit to the officials. They did a great job sorting it all out.
What is up with his haircut?
Here is another look at the initial flagrant foul and the subsequent scuffle:
duncan powell; bryce hopkins; scuffle; st. john's vs providence pic.twitter.com/Xet6P3cvwD
— ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) February 14, 2026
Duncan Powell deserves to be suspended for his actions. He also deserves to be suspended for his haircut.
The fifth-year senior is known for his distinctive drop shag haircut — a style that is deeply rooted in the culture of his hometown, Dallas, Texas. It is a layered, textured haircut that follows the natural curve of the head. The hair is longer at the back of the head than at the top. The “drop” refers to how the length falls longer at the nape of the neck.
More specifically, Powell rocks a “duck tail drop shag.”
You can say whatever you want about Dallas culture but the haircut is objectively awful. Powell set social media on fire by starting a brawl with his flagrant foul, but most people were focused on his hair.
The casual fans of college basketball were not previously aware of his signature haircut. They learned.