Andrew Harrison, a guard on the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, apologized on Sunday for using a racial slur to describe an opponent in a news conference one day earlier.
Harrison, whose previously undefeated Wildcats were eliminated from the NCAA Final Four on Saturday in a stunning upset by the Wisconsin Badgers, could be heard quietly mumbling “F-ck that n—-” in reference to Wisconsin star Frank Kaminsky, ESPN reports.
He backed away from that comment early Sunday morning in a series of tweets, saying it was meant “in jest.” Harrison also said he called Kaminsky to apologize and wish him luck ahead of Wisconsin’s championship game Monday night against Duke.
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Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com