Florida Scuffle Leaves Nelson With Fracture

Florida Coach Billy Donovan insists the Gators are one, big happy family, even though guard Brett Nelson has a fractured cheekbone that indicates otherwise.

Nelson was injured in a scrape with teammate LaDarius Halton during practice Tuesday. Nelson had surgery that night, but Donovan said the junior will be available when the Gators play Creighton on Friday in the first round of the Midwest Regional in Chicago.

“Basically, what happened was, you had two players playing very hard,” Donovan said. “Both guys’ emotions got into it.

“There was an altercation there. It was quick. They’re both perfectly fine. They hugged each other when it was over with.”

Donovan said Nelson was limited to light shooting in practice Wednesday, but would return to full practice today and would play Friday.

Nelson will not need a protective mask to play, Donovan said.

Donovan said neither player would be punished.

“I’ve always applied discipline when discipline is needed, but it’s not in this case,” Donovan said. “Both guys assumed responsibility. I handled it. Nobody is disgruntled, upset, choosing sides or anything like that. Our guys know how intense practice is.”

Donovan scoffs at the perception that the scuffle is a sign of a team in turmoil.

“Some people say this is awful timing for something like this--I think it’s great timing,” Donovan said. “They paint a picture of a team in disarray. But bottom line, I think these guys are close-knit and together.”

Nelson is Florida’s third-leading scorer, averaging 14.7 points.

*

Montana’s players appear a bit dazzled by their surroundings in Sacramento.

The 15th-seeded Grizzlies play No. 2-seeded Oregon today at Arco Arena, an NBA building that seats about 14,000 more than Montana averages for its home games in Missoula.

“I don’t know how many they pack in here--2,000 or 3,000,” Montana Coach Don Holst joked.

Asked how the Grizzlies plan to slow down Oregon, Holst quipped, “Lock ‘em in the locker room.”