Heated SEC Championship Game Results in Multiple Suspensions and Even an Arrest

Written by mapickard

For some, March is the best time of the year. It’s not because the weather starts to become a little nicer or because the sun is out a little longer, it is because it is the beginning of March Madness. The NCAA college basketball tournament (the “Tournament”) begins in March and is one of the most popular sporting events across the country. However, before we can watch the tournament, teams must first play in their respective conference tournaments.

This past weekend was the women’s basketball conference tournament championships. On Sunday, the LSU Tigers played the South Carolina Gamecocks for the SEC Championship. Both teams are loaded with superstars, and fans expected to see an intense, high scoring game. I am sure that fans even expected the game to get chippy as the two teams have played each other before, with every game being a battle.

However, the game this past Sunday ended in a different fashion than past games. With about two minutes left in the game, a fight broke out near half court. The fight began when South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley stole the ball from LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, who then fouled Fulwiley to prevent an easy layup.[1] When the play was stopped, South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins ran up to Johnson and got in her face; Johnson then shoved Watkins.[2]

This lead to South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso charging in and shoving Johnson to the ground, which catapulted the brawl.[3] Both benches cleared and gathered at halfcourt, with players and coaches trying to break things up.[4] Furthermore, during the scuffle, Johnson’s brother, Trayron Milton, who was sitting a few rows up from halfcourt, leaped over the scorer’s table onto the court.[5] Milton briefly made contact with Cardoso before police officers led him away.[6]

The Greenville Police Department stated that “Milton came from behind the table, pushed down on [an SEC employee’s] head, and stepped on her shoulders to jump over.”[7] The Greenville Police Department has reported that they have charged Milton with third-degree assault and battery and disorderly conduct.[8] Two other spectators tried to jump over the scorer’s table and get onto the court, but officers were able to stop these people before they were successful.[9] It was a good thing that police officers stepped in quickly, as having fans on the court could have created an extremely dangerous situation for all parties involved.

In the end, “Cardoso was ejected for fighting and three of her teammates were thrown out for leaving the bench area.”[10] Additionally, “[t]wo LSU players who logged minutes in the game were also sent off.”[11] This left South Carolina to finish the game with six players and LSU with five players.[12] While Cardoso’s ejection may have not hurt the team in this game, South Carolina will now have to play the first game of the tournament without Cardoso due to the NCAA imposing a one (1) game suspension for fighting.[13]

While fans love the passion and intensity that the two teams play with, bench clearing brawls with ejections are never a good thing, especially when fans are getting involved. After the game Cardoso issued an apology and took full responsibility for her actions, stating, “[m]y behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused.”[14]

Likewise, Dawn Staley, the South Carolina head coach, also issued an apology after the game for her team’s role in the scuffle. Staley stated, “[w]hen you’re playing in championship games like this in our league, things get heated.”[15] She did not make any excuses for her team’s actions, but she does realize that sometimes emotions are hard to control in situations like those that occurred on Sunday.[16]

The two teams are both set to play in the tournament, which starts next week. These two teams will hopefully see each other again in the later rounds of the tournament. The intensity that comes with rivalries like this is exactly why people love the sport – this is exactly what March Madness is all about.

[1] Dawn Staley apologizes for South Carolina’s role in fight with LSU (usatoday.com); Kamilla Cardoso, both benches ejected during South Carolina vs. LSU (greenvilleonline.com)

[2] Id.

[3] Kamilla Cardoso, both benches ejected during South Carolina vs. LSU (greenvilleonline.com)

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Brother of LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson arrested after SEC Tournament championship fight | AP News

[7] Kamilla Cardoso: South Carolina senior center apologizes for role in SEC Championship game scuffle | CNN

[8] Kamilla Cardoso: South Carolina senior center apologizes for role in SEC Championship game scuffle | CNN; Brother of LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson arrested after SEC Tournament championship fight | AP News

[9] Kamilla Cardoso: South Carolina senior center apologizes for role in SEC Championship game scuffle | CNN

[10] Brother of LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson arrested after SEC Tournament championship fight | AP News

[11] Id.

[12] Id.