The rivalry between SEC foes LSU and South Carolina reached new heights when an altercation broke out in the course of the convention championship recreation Sunday. A number of gamers have been ejected, and Gamecocks middle Kamilla Cardoso has been suspended for the primary recreation of the NCAA Match, the SEC confirmed to The Athletic on Monday.
Questioning what occurred between the 2 nationwide title contenders and the way this may increasingly impression their March Insanity runs? Right here’s a rundown of Sunday’s scuffle and what it could imply for the long run:
What’s the historical past?
An über aggressive recreation between the nationwide title contenders in late January, which noticed South Carolina overcome a 5-point halftime deficit to win 76-70, raised the stakes of their eventual postseason assembly. Then each groups entered the ultimate recreation of the convention event coming off emotional semifinal matchups. South Carolina narrowly escaped Tennessee due to Kamilla Cardoso’s beautiful 3-pointer — the primary of her profession — whereas LSU gamers mentioned they have been enjoying the title recreation for teammate Final-Tear Poa, who exited the Tigers’ Saturday recreation on a stretcher after struggling a concussion within the fourth quarter.
What occurred Sunday?
Earlier than the late-game alternate, gamers traded barbs, and moments of known as (and uncalled) chippy contact boiled over to a degree the place the scuffle broke out.
LSU star Angel Reese and Cardoso went forwards and backwards all recreation, with Reese pulling Cardoso’s hair with 5:15 left within the second quarter after which Cardoso shoving Reese across the 4:34 mark. A second later, Reese was known as for an intentional foul for elbowing Cardoso within the face. Cardoso additionally had foul hassle, going to the bench after selecting up her third early within the third quarter.
The scuffle erupted with simply over 2 minutes left on the sport clock when LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson tugged on the jersey of South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, slowing down her progress as she dribbled up the ground. Johnson then ran into South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins. Cardoso sprinted over, pushing Johnson to the bottom.
LSU and South Carolina gamers received right into a scuffle within the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024
The benches principally cleared as gamers ran to midcourt earlier than coaches separated their respective groups. A fan, whom ESPN’s broadcast recognized as Johnson’s brother, left the stands and leapt over the scorer’s desk, and was briefly on the court docket earlier than police escorted him off the ground.
Johnson’s brother, recognized as Trayron Milton, was arrested for disorderly conduct and assault and battery. Milton was booked right into a Greenville County jail.
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Who received ejected? Why?
After a delay that lasted round 20 minutes, officers known as Johnson for committing an intentional foul and ejected Cardoso. In addition they ejected each participant from every group’s bench for leaving their respective bench areas, aside from South Carolina’s Sania Feagin, who didn’t go away the Gamecocks’ bench space, and Te-Hina Paopao, who was already on the scorer’s desk to sub into the sport. Feagin changed Cardoso on the ground after the ejection.
Why was Cardoso suspended?
She was suspended as a result of she was ejected for combating, which is stipulated in NCAA guidelines. The opposite ejected gamers have been tossed from the sport for leaving the bench space. As a result of they weren’t disqualified from play resulting from combating, these gamers didn’t obtain suspensions.
Will her absence impression South Carolina within the NCAA Match?
Unlikely. Although Cardoso will miss the opening recreation of the event, the Gamecocks will nonetheless be the heavy favorites because the No. 1 total seed on Choice Sunday and can face an overmatched No. 16 seed. Over the previous 5 tournaments, South Carolina has gained its first recreation by a median of 29.8 factors.
Watkins, who’s averaging 9.7 factors and seven.1 rebounds, will probably step as much as fill Cardoso’s absence.
What gamers, coaches mentioned after the sport
Reese mentioned she had by no means performed in a recreation fairly like Sunday’s championship however chalked it up as “two heavy hitters” who have been battling.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey mentioned Cardoso shoving Johnson was “uncalled for” and referenced their top distinction. Cardoso is 6-foot-7 and Johnson is 5-10.
“It’s ugly. It’s not good. Nobody needs to be part of that. Nobody needs to see that ugliness. However I can let you know this: I want she would have pushed Angel Reese. Don’t push a child — (you’re) 6’8″. Don’t push any individual that little,” Mulkey mentioned. “Let these two ladies that have been jawing, allow them to go at it.”
South Carolina coach Daybreak Staley mentioned she took duty for what occurred on the Gamecocks’ aspect and added that Johnson approached her after the sport.
“Flau’jae got here to me after the sport, proper after the sport, she simply apologized and mentioned she’s not that kind of participant. I actually respect that. That’s one thing that any individual gained’t ever hear if I didn’t say something. And she or he’s not. She’s a extremely good individual. Issues simply received escalated,” Staley mentioned.
Cardoso took to X, previously often known as Twitter, to share her apology.
“My conduct was not consultant of who I’m as an individual or the South Carolina program, and I deeply remorse any discomfort or inconvenience it could have induced. I take full duty for my actions and guarantee you that I’m dedicated to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship sooner or later,” the senior mentioned.
I wish to lengthen my sincerest apologies for my actions throughout right now’s recreation. My conduct was not consultant of who I’m as an individual or the South Carolina program, and I deeply remorse any discomfort or inconvenience it could have induced. I take full duty for my…
— Kamilla_Cardoso (@Kamillascsilva) March 10, 2024
Required studying
(Picture: Eakin Howard / Getty Photos)
