 Gonzalez led the 2009–10 Pirates to postseason play for the first time in four years, with a berth in the NIT.Six minutes into the Pirates' first-round matchup with Texas Tech, forward Herb Pope knocked Texas Tech's Darko Cohadarevic to the floor with a punch to the groin.After officials reviewed the play on the replay monitor, Pope was ejected from the game, and Seton Hall subsequently lost 87–69.