The University of Illinois, ranked in the top dozen teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, has a chance to go far in the playoffs this year. Its star guard, Terrence Shannon Jr., is expected to be picked near the top of the NBA draft. But in December, he was arrested on a rape charge. The school suspended him from the team.

So why is he playing basketball now? It could be an unintended consequence of the NCAA’s decision a few years ago to allow college athletes to start earning money. Confused? Let’s back up.