With a 13-18 overall record, including an 8-8 mark in the America East Conference, the Binghamton University men's basketball team is a far cry from last year's squad, which won the league title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. This season's on-the-court struggles, however, are likely the least of anyone's worries.

The trouble for the program began when guard Emanuel "Tiki" Mayben was arrested in his hometown of Troy, N.Y., for possessing and selling cocaine. Mayben, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment the next day, was permanently dismissed from the basketball team following the arrest.

Following Mayben's arrest, five more members of the basketball team were released, including D.J. Rivera, arguably the conference's top player, and Malik Alvin, one of the Bearcats' top scorers from 2008-09. Corey Chandler, who transferred to Binghamton in August after being dismissed from the program at Rutgers University earlier that month, Paul Crosby, and David Fine were also let go.

Then, adjunct lecturer Sally Dear, who accused the athletic department of giving preferential treatment to men's basketball players and pressuring her to change her grading policy in an interview with the New York Times in February 2009, was fired. The firing, however, was reversed just three days later as Dear was informed she would remain on board as an adjunct in a different department. To cap off the tumultuous week, Athletic Director Joel Thirer then resigned, and Head Coach Kevin Broadus was eventually placed on paid leave. University President Lois DeFleur has also announced she will step down in July.

The four-month investigation into the university's athletic department was released Feb. 11. According to USA Today, the team of investigators concluded that Binghamton "emphasized damage-control over discipline and personal responsibility in responding to problems that arose after the university moved its sports programs to the big-time world of college athletics.

"The report is critical of actions by BU president Lois DeFleur, Thirer, some coaches and others. The 102-page document paints a picture of an environment in which the key people were willing to cut corners in order to generate wins on the court."

The report also revealed several new details, mainly related to the men's basketball program. Among them:

• Allegations that Rivera bought a television and clothing using a debit card that wasn't his, and that other players were present at the time.

• Text messages between Alvin and Assistant Coach Marc Hsu that showed Alvin asking Hsu for money. Hsu appears to say that he would meet Alvin and give him money. Alvin also asked Hsu to "reword" parts of a paper for class.

• Claims that players may have received improper benefits from the university. For example, Mayben claimed an unnamed coach was paying for players' cellphones.

• Claims of one player who transferred to Binghamton and received credit for courses like Bowling I and Theories of Softball.

In a recent conference call with reporters, SUNY chancellor Nancy Zimpher said she was disappointed that Binghamton would do anything to compromise its stellar academic integrity. Zimpher, who ordered the investigation, plans to make recommendations on what to do with the Binghamton program when the SUNY executive committee meets on March 23. The report will also likely be forwarded to the NCAA, which will look at a number of things, including whether the university showed a lack of institutional control and if any penalties are warranted.

In response, Binghamton issued a statement that said the university is already working on some of the report's major findings. According to the statement:

"The Interim Athletic Director, working with the Director of Student Services, has developed and implemented a plan to support members of the men's basketball team that will enhance their overall experience at Binghamton University. Elements of the plan include providing additional academic counseling and other support for all members of the basketball team. Assistant coaches have been given extra responsibility for student-athlete oversight."

Since the initial controversy came to light and the report was released, many in the media have been critical of Binghamton, its administrators, and the athletic department. George Vecsey of the New York Times writes that Binghamton has embarrassed the SUNY system and its story should serve as a cautionary tale for how a school with an excellent academic reputation "was held hostage by an upgraded basketball program that forgot to honor academic standards or, for that matter, normal ethics or honesty.

"The administrators at Binghamton might as well have leased out a portion of the campus to a counterfeiting operation or a prostitution ring or a drug mill," Vecsey writes. "Go all the way. Instead, a few administrators had the bright idea of turning Binghamton into a powerhouse capable of reaching the N.C.A.A. tournament. What a lousy goal. What poor judgment. By so-called educators."

An editorial in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, meanwhile, opines that it is time for the university to practice openness and honesty.

"I would rather support players who go 0-30 but conduct themselves properly and take advantage of an opportunity to get a college diploma than those who fail to adhere to rules, regulations and laws.

"Others who are expected to have far more integrity and experience distinguishing between the right way and the wrong way to run a basketball program and an athletic department needed to step up and save us from this disgrace."

Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management.