Following the tragic events and ensuing corruption scandal of 2003, the Baylor University men's basketball program faced a mass exodus of players who chose to transfer to other institutions. The climate of the team had become entirely dysfunctional under the previous coaching staff, and with the imposition of severe self-imposed and NCAA sanctions—including a ban on non-conference games and massive scholarship cuts—student-athletes sought safe harbors elsewhere to salvage their collegiate playing careers and professional prospects.