The rivalry between SEC foes LSU and South Carolina reached new heights when a brawl broke out during Sunday’s conference championship game. Multiple players were suspended, and Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso was suspended for the first game of the NCAA Tournament, the SEC confirmed in The Athlete on Monday.
Wondering what happened between the two national title contenders and how it might affect their March Madness streaks? Here’s a recap of Sunday’s clash and what it could mean going forward:
What is the story?
A competitive game between the national title contenders in late January that saw South Carolina overcome a 5-point halftime deficit to win 76-70 raised the stakes for the eventual postseason meeting. Both teams then entered the final game of the conference tournament coming off emotional semifinal games. South Carolina narrowly escaped Tennessee thanks to Kamilla Cardoso’s stunning 3-pointer – the first of her career – while LSU players said they were playing the title game for last-tear teammate Poa, who left the Tigers’ game on Saturday on a stretcher after suffering a concussion in the fourth quarter.
What happened on Sunday?
Before the end-of-game exchange, the players exchanged barbs and moments of called (and uncalled for) chip contact reached the point where a brawl broke out.
LSU star Angel Reese and Cardoso went back and forth throughout the game, with Reese pulling Cardoso’s hair with 5:15 left in the second quarter and then Cardoso shoving Reese around the 4:34 mark. A second later, Reese was called for an intentional foul for elbowing Cardoso in the face. Cardoso was also in foul trouble, going to the bench after picking up her third early in the third quarter.
The brawl broke out with just 2 minutes left on the game clock when LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson pulled the jersey of South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, slowing her progress as she dribbled down the floor. Johnson then fell to South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins. Cardoso ran, pushing Johnson to the ground.
LSU and South Carolina players brawled in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship Game. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024
The benches were mostly cleared as players ran to center before the coaches separated their respective teams. A fan, identified by the ESPN broadcast as Johnson’s brother, ran from the stands and jumped over the scorer’s table and was briefly on the court before police escorted him off the court.
Johnson’s brother, identified as Trayron Milton, was arrested for disorderly conduct and assault and battery. Milton was booked into a Greenville County jail.
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Who got kicked out? Why;
After a delay of about 20 minutes, the officials called Johnson for intentionally fouling and ejected Cardoso. They also ejected all players from each team’s bench for leaving their respective benches, except for South Carolina’s Sania Feagin, who did not leave the Gamecocks’ bench, and Te-Hina Paopao, who was already on the scorer’s table for to enter the bench. game. Feagin replaced Cardoso on the floor after the toss.
Why was Cardoso suspended?
He was suspended for being ejected for fighting, which is stipulated in NCAA rules. The other players sent off were thrown from the game for leaving the bench. Because they were not ejected from the game for fighting, these players received no suspensions.
Will her absence affect South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament?
It’s not likely. Although Cardoso will miss the tournament opener, the Gamecocks will still be the heavy favorites as the No. 1 overall seed on Selection Sunday and face an overmatched No. 16 seed. In the last five tournaments, South Carolina has won the her first game with a 29.8 point average.
Watkins, who is averaging 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, will likely step up to fill Cardoso’s absence.
What the players, coaches said after the game
Rees said she had never played in a game like Sunday’s championship, but called it “two heavy hitters” battling it out.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Cardoso pushing Johnson was “rude” and referred to their height difference. Cardoso is 6-foot-7 and Johnson is 5-10.
“It’s ugly. It’s not good. Nobody wants to be a part of that. Nobody wants to see that ugliness. But I can tell you this: I wish he had pushed Angel Reese. Don’t push a kid — (you’re) 6 ‘8″. Don’t push somebody that little,” Mulkey said. “Let those two girls that had a jaw, let them do it.”
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said she took responsibility for what happened on the Gamecocks’ end and added that Johnson approached her after the game.
“Flauzae came to me after the game, right after the game, she just apologized and said she’s not that type of player. Really appreciate it. This is something no one would ever hear if I didn’t say anything. And it is not. He is a very nice person. Things just escalated,” Staley said.
Cardoso took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share her apology.
“My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I am deeply sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort it may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future,” the senior said.
I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions during today’s match. My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I am deeply sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort it may have caused. I take full responsibility for…
— Kamilla_Cardoso (@Kamillascsilva) March 10, 2024
Required reading
(Photo: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
