If you were wondering why Omar Payne didn’t take the court for the Gators against Virginia Tech on Friday, now we know.

While Florida certainly could have used Payne, head coach Mike White made the decision to suspend the forward after his vicious elbow knocked Tennessee’s John Fulkerson out of the SEC Tournament.

Fulkerson’s status for the NCAA Tournament remains in doubt following the incident.

Payne was ejected from the Tennessee game after throwing the elbow that hit Fulkerson during the SEC Tournament but no punishment was handed down by the SEC following the incident.

Following Florida’s overtime win over Virginia Tech in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, White explained his decision to suspend Payne.

“Definitely a teaching moment. It wasn’t overly difficult,” White said after his team beat the Hokies according to Graham Hall. “Difficult that he couldn’t play, but it was the right thing to do. He handled it like a champ…We all make mistakes, he’s a great young man.”

White did not announce if Payne would be suspended for Florida’s next game, which will be against the winner of Ohio State vs. Oral Roberts.