The NCAA announced Thursday that the Baylor men's basketball program has been placed on probation through 2010 and will have to play a shortened season either this year or next based on findings of its investigation. Baylor will be allowed to decide which of the next two seasons it will not play non-conference games. The Bears will be able to play Big 12 Conference games and will remain eligible for postseason competition, though. The committee's findings included intentional violations committed by the head coach at the time, Dave Bliss, and members of his staff, and attempts to cover up those violations by providing inaccurate information and falsifying documents. "The coaches' disregard for NCAA rules has tarnished them, the university, and intercollegiate athletics as a whole," said Gene Marsh, chair of the Division I Committee on Infractions and a professor of law at the University of Alabama. Among the numerous infractions, Bliss was believed to have made improper payments to students, including the late Patrick Dennehy. The investigation on the basketball program was put into motion when Dennehy was found dead in July of 2003 and teammate Carlton Dotson was charged with his murder. Dotson has since pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.