Although the Baylor scandal was not a point-shaving case, it became one of college basketball's most severe institutional-infractions episodes because the program combined improper financial aid, recruiting violations, drug-policy failures, and obstruction of investigations. Baylor initially imposed two years of probation, withdrew from the 2003-04 Big 12 tournament, and granted every player a full release so athletes could transfer without penalty. The university later extended probation, reduced scholarships and recruiting opportunities, and eliminated an exhibition game. In June 2005, the NCAA augmented those sanctions with probation through 2010 and the loss of one year of non-conference competition. The governing body described the violations as demonstrating a 'blatant and sweeping disregard' for NCAA rules and judged them comparable in seriousness to the violations at Southern Methodist University nearly two decades earlier. Baylor was technically eligible for the NCAA's so-called death penalty because its men's tennis program was already on probation for major violations, meaning a second major violation within five years could have triggered the ultimate sanction. The NCAA stopped short of that punishment because Baylor acted quickly once the misconduct became known, unlike SMU's football administration, which had been accused of tolerating violations. The basketball program was nevertheless devastated: Lawrence Roberts, John Lucas III, Kenny Taylor, and Tyrone Nelson transferred, and Baylor won only 36 games, including 13 conference games, from 2003 through 2007. The sanctions became one of the harshest punishments ever imposed on a Division I program that avoided the death penalty.
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