Will Manek ejection affect Sweet 16 availability?

By R.L. Bynum

From the time that Brady Manek got ejected after questionably being called for a flagrant-two foul, some wondered if that would lead to a suspension.

There was even speculation about it Monday during “Packer and Durham” on ACC Network that the league could look at it.

But, since the ejection doesn’t involve fighting, there will be no suspension and Manek will play on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. in the East Regional semifinals against UCLA in Philadelphia (TBS).

A UNC spokesman confirmed Monday that Manek will play.

A second-half ejection in college football automatically means that player can’t play in the first half of the next game. But there is no such rule in basketball unless a fight is involved.

Manek had 28 points and four 3-pointers before being ejected with 10:08 left in regulation of UNC’s 93–86 overtime victory over reigning NCAA champion Baylor in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday.

Manek was looking away from Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan when he inadvertently elbowed him in the face. Sochan is the same player who tripped Armando Bacot in the first half.

The game went off the rails after that as UNC blew a 25-point lead before winning in overtime. Manek was on pace for a career-high when the call was made.

Eastern Regional

First round

Thursday’s games
At Dickies Arena
Fort Worth, Texas

Baylor 85, Norfolk State 49
North Carolina 95, Marquette 63
At Moda Center
Portland, Ore.

Saint Mary’s 82, Indiana 53
UCLA 57, Akron 53
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis

St. Peter’s 85, Kentucky 79, OT
Murray St. 92, San Francisco 87, OT
Friday’s games
At Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee

Purdue 78, Yale 56
Texas 81, Virginia Tech 73

Second round

Saturday’s games
At Dickies Arena
Fort Worth, Texas

North Carolina 93, Baylor 86, OT
At Moda Center
Portland, Ore.

UCLA 72, Saint Mary’s 56
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis

St. Peter’s 70, Murray St. 60
Sunday’s game
At Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee

Purdue 81, Texas 71

Regional semifinals

At Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia
Friday’s games

St. Peter’s (21–11) vs. Purdue (29–7), 7, TBS
North Carolina (26–9) vs. UCLA (27–7), 9:30, TBS

Regional championship

Sunday’s game
At Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia

Semifinal winners, TBA

Photo via @UNC_Basketball

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