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Arizona star Bennedict Mathurin comments on possible inappropriate contact with TCU dance member

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•03/23/22•

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Freshman Bennedict Mathurin came up big late in the game as Arizona prevailed in OT to advance to the Sweet 16. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Arizona’s leading scorer Bennedict Mathurin is in hot water after the Wildcats’ Round of 32 victory against TCU, where he touched a Horned Frogs dance team member in the breast on his way off the court. The video went viral that night and fans have been upset about his actions ever since. Mathurin has now apologized.

“We actually sent an email and reached out to the to the cheerleader and sent through the TCU athletic department reached out to her and that is it,” Mathurin said in a press conference Wednesday.

The Pac-12 player of the year didn’t say whether or not he’s been given a response when trying to relay his apology to the TCU dancer. He elected not to answer a follow-up question about whether he recalls touching the dancer or not Sunday night. Arizona’s athletic director Dave Heeke said in a statement Wednesday that Mathurin didn’t recall making any contact with the dancer, but has still apologized.

“Shortly after returning to Tucson, I was notified that people on social media were claiming a video clip showed Bennedict Mathurin may have made physical contact with a TCU student while walking off the court. I have reached out to TCU’s Athletics Department and I spoke with Bennedict,” Heeke said. “While he does not recall any contact, he has attempted to reach out to the TCU student through their Athletic Department to apologize.”

TCU’s athletic department did not immediately respond when asked about the incident and TCU has made no public comments and has not identified the dancer, per the Associated Press. As of now, it doesn’t look as through Mathurin will be punished for the incident ahead of Arizona’s Sweet 16 matchup against Houston.

Mathurin averaged 17.8 points per game this season for the Wildcats along with 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game during his sophomore campaign.