North Carolina senior Makhtar Ndiaye wants to enter an anger management counseling program after falsely accusing an opponent of using a racial slur at the Final Four, the school says.
Meanwhile, the school's athletic department also announced Wednesday that student attorney general will investigate Ndiaye's false allegation last weekend to determine if he violated the school's code of conduct.Athletic director Dick Baddour said the case was turned over to the attorney general by UNC's Division of Student Affairs. The athletic department will help Ndiaye receive the counseling, Baddour said.
"As upset as he was after the loss to Utah, he is even more disconsolate about the controversy that has been a result of his postgame comments," Baddour said. "He is sorry if this incident has embarrassed the university and the basketball program."
Ndiaye (pronounced Jeye) accused Utah player Britton Johnsen of making a slur during Saturday's semifinals of the NCAA tournament. Ndiaye has since retracted his accusations.
Ndiaye said Saturday night that Johnsen, who is white, used the epithet during the semifinal, which Utah won 65-59. Johnsen denied using the slur and said Ndiaye spat on him.
Ndiaye said he sent a letter of apology to Johnsen about the false accusation. Johnsen stood by his claim that Ndiaye spit on him during the game. Ndiaye denied spitting on Johnsen.
At North Carolina, the student attorney general conducts a preliminary investigation, then decides if there's enough evidence to bring the case before the court.
Under the student code of conduct, students can be brought to the honor court for offenses such as cheating, lying, assault, stealing and sexual offenses.