University of Minnesota basketball guards Kevin Dorsey, Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer will be suspended for the remainder of the season, the team announced on Tuesday.
The three were benched on Sunday for the Gophers' 84-71 loss at Illinois. Two days earlier, a sex video appeared on the social media accounts of Dorsey. The university has not yet confirmed whether the video is related to the suspensions. Neither Mason nor McBrayer were identified in the videos, which were removed shortly after the posting.
"After careful and continued consideration, I am suspending Kevin Dorsey, Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer for the duration of the season," coach Richard Pitino said in a statement. "I believe this is the best thing for the basketball program as we strive to build a strong and respectful culture each and every day.
"We do our best to continue to consistently teach, educate and serve all of our student-athletes. It's a privilege to be a member of the University of Minnesota basketball program – something as a coaching staff we do not take lightly and that we stress daily to our student athletes. In this instance, these student-athletes failed to meet the standards we have set."
The Gophers have two games left in the regular season before traveling to the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis next week. Minnesota plays Wisconsin on Wednesday before wrapping up the schedule at Rutgers on Saturday.
Mason leads the team with 13.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while the three combined for 26.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists a game. The trio also represents the only true guards with scholarships on the roster.
"Coach Pitino and I have had extensive discussions during the last several days, and I support his decision to suspend three student athletes for the remainder of the season," interim athletic director Beth Goetz added in the statement. "The privilege of representing the University of Minnesota comes with great responsibility and we hold all of our student-athletes accountable."
The media meets with Pitino later this evening.
