University of Southern California

On February 19, Arizona State came away from an especially rough match-up against USC with 32 fouls and a 93-81 win. The Sun Devils were just starting to celebrate the victory, their fourth Pac-10 win in a row, when USC forward Jeff Trepagnier committed one more flagrant foul and turned the post-game handshake ritual into a knock-down, drag-out fight.

According to the Associated Press report, the brawl began when Trepagnier knocked Arizona State forward Awvee Storey off his feet instead of shaking his hand. At that point, players on both teams got physical, shoving and kicking each other. After the brawlers were pulled apart and ushered to safety, Pac-10 officials reprimanded both Trepagnier and Storey. Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen said that he could not establish "beyond a doubt" from video footage who initiated the fight, so he placed Trepagnier, Storey and Arizona State forward Tanner Shell on probation. Any more fighting would bench those three with suspensions. Trepagnier doesn't have to worry about that any more-- his team is finished for the year-- but Storey and Shell will have to behave themselves in the NIT.

Apparently, the players' blood pressures began to rise before the game even started, when a gymnastics meet in Arizona State's Wells Fargo Arena banished the basketball teams to the Student Recreation Center for practice. ASU officials said the Sun Devils had to wait 40 minutes to start their shoot-around because the Trojans refused to surrender the court. The Sun Devils also had to wait to take the floor for their pregame warm-ups and complained that their practice balls were returned with obscenities scratched into them. Tempers were hot throughout the game, and officials called a total of 58 fouls before the final buzzer. Trepagnier and Storey both fouled out of the game, partly due to twin technical fouls called for a confrontation in the first half. Looks like the USC bench isn't conducive to cooling off.

From the Los Angeles Times:

'Win at All Costs' Approach Leaves Bibby Crying Foul

Trepagnier Put on Probation

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