Three Minnesota players have been suspended for the duration of the season just days after their sex tape was released on social media, the father of one of the players told ESPN.com on Tuesday, confirming earlier reports about the incident.
The players initially were suspended for Sunday's game at Illinois for violating team rules.
"After careful and continued consideration, I am suspending Kevin Dorsey, Nate Mason and Dupree McBrayer for the duration of the season," Gophers coach Richard Pitino said in a statement released by the school Tuesday. "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."
Citing educational data privacy, Pitino declined to speak specifically about the incident when asked about it Tuesday. Asked whether the players would return next season, he said he wasn't prepared to speculate about their future statuses.
"We put a lot of thought into this, and we feel this is the right thing to do for our program,'' said Pitino, who had said Monday on his radio show that he expected the trio would play Wednesday against Wisconsin.
Pitino said that was premature on his part.
"I had not come to a final decision yet," he said. "Nothing really had changed. Just more time passed."
Nate Mason Sr., Mason's father, said his son and his two teammates were suspended for the remainder of the season after Dorsey posted a video to his Twitter account Friday that showed the players engaging in sexual activity with women. The Twitter account has since been deleted.
Nate Mason Sr. said Pitino called him before the three players' initial suspension for Sunday's game.
"They were all together [during the incident]," Mason Sr. said. "[Mason] didn't know his friend would put it on social media."
Nate Mason Sr. said he often warned his son, the team's leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, about the dangers of social media.
"Why would you let someone film you with their phone?" Mason Sr. said.
Mason Sr. said his son never got into trouble in high school and arrived at Minnesota with a "clean reputation." He said he hopes his son understands the gravity of his errors.
"I think kids need to learn when they make mistakes," he said.
In all, four players will miss Minnesota's final games because of suspensions or previous dismissals. Carlos Morris was dismissed earlier this month for "conduct detrimental to the team."
Last season, Zach Lofton was dismissed for failing to "meet the expectations and obligations of the team," and Daquein McNeil was kicked off the team after he was charged with domestic assault.
Minnesota (8-20, 2-14) finishes its regular season Saturday at Rutgers.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.