On the eve of the MAAC conference tournament in which it's the top seed, the Siena men's basketball team is facing NCAA probation over allegations of the former head coach paying players.

The NCAA notified Siena of multiple infractions committed by former head coach Jimmy Patsos and his staff during the last three seasons of Patsos' tenure with the Saints.

Patsos is accused, in an NCAA public infractions decision, of giving players money in the locker room after games, and in the weight room during "team activities." For this and other infractions noted in the decision, the NCAA is recommending three years’ of probation for the program and a fine, as well as a three-year "show-cause order" for Patsos, if he applies for any NCAA coaching job during that time.

Patsos resigned in April 2018. He went 77-92 in five seasons at the helm. The Saints program had been under a school investigation at the time amid reports that the coach verbally berated a team manager with a mental disorder. Additionally, two sources close to the program said at the time that Patsos had team managers thrown off the bus ahead of an away game earlier that year. Those managers, according to the sources, then had to walk to the game.

This year, the Saints are 19-10, having won the MAAC regular-season championship under Coach Carmen Maciariello. The Saints are the top seed in the MAAC tournament, and will play Wednesday night against either Fairfield or Manhattan.

"NCAA officials affirmed in their report that Siena took proper responsibility at every step during the investigation process," Siena Interim President Margaret Madden said in a statement. "As the NCAA public report outlines, we have already begun making significant improvements to our Athletics program and procedures to strengthen the college's dedication to transparency and strict compliance protocols."