Minnesota Basketball Players Acused of Rape

January 1986 – Madison, WI
Dane County investigators questioned Gopher players and on January 24th, they arrested three players who were later charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old Wisconsin student the Concourse Hotel after a party.

The University of Minnesota forfeited a game against Northwestern, and basketball coach Jim Dutcher resigned over the alleged incident. Dutcher's resignation came amid criticism that he did not exercise enough control over the student-athletes who played for him. Even though the accused players were acquitted of rape, critics complained the circumstances reflected inadequate supervision.

The players involved:

Kevin Smith (21), of Lansing, Michigan

Mitchell Lee (21), of Carol City, Florida

George Williams Jr. (20), of Oakland, California