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If not for a couple of late-game blunders, New Orleans might have a date with top-seeded Villanova.
Instead, talk about the Privateers' first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1996 surrounds a physical altercation between two teammates during a critical time in Tuesday's First Four play-in game against Mount St. Mary's.
New Orleans trailed by three with less than seven minutes remaining when Travin Thibodeaux, a junior forward, exchanged words with senior guard Christavious Gill. Thibodeaux had just committed a turnover and angrily blamed Gill, seemingly for failing to get him the ball sooner in the post.
While heading to the bench for a timeout, Gill shoved Thibodeaux, who appeared to respond by putting his hands around Gill's neck.
The two were separated before the situation escalated, but Thibodeaux, the team's second-leading rebounder, was benched for the rest of the game.
New Orleans went on to lose 67-66.
"Well, we've got two extremely competitive guys there," Privateers coach Mark Slessinger said. "And, I mean, they're best friends, to be honest with you. Just got sideways with each other. One thought he should have zigged and the other thought he should have zagged.
"They got sideways with each other, they got into it and I made the decision to sit Travin the rest of the half. I thought it was in the best interest of our team moving forward for the half. It was disappointing."
Thibodeaux finished the game with 11 points and two rebounds.
If not for a couple of late-game blunders, New Orleans might have a date with top-seeded Villanova.
Instead, talk about the Privateers' first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1996 surrounds a physical altercation between two teammates during a critical time in Tuesday's First Four play-in game against Mount St. Mary's.
New Orleans trailed by three with less than seven minutes remaining when Travin Thibodeaux, a junior forward, exchanged words with senior guard Christavious Gill. Thibodeaux had just committed a turnover and angrily blamed Gill, seemingly for failing to get him the ball sooner in the post.
While heading to the bench for a timeout, Gill shoved Thibodeaux, who appeared to respond by putting his hands around Gill's neck.
The two were separated before the situation escalated, but Thibodeaux, the team's second-leading rebounder, was benched for the rest of the game.
New Orleans went on to lose 67-66.
"Well, we've got two extremely competitive guys there," Privateers coach Mark Slessinger said. "And, I mean, they're best friends, to be honest with you. Just got sideways with each other. One thought he should have zigged and the other thought he should have zagged.
"They got sideways with each other, they got into it and I made the decision to sit Travin the rest of the half. I thought it was in the best interest of our team moving forward for the half. It was disappointing."
Thibodeaux finished the game with 11 points and two rebounds.
