That is sufficient so that players can't jump willy nilly from one school to the next because of a short term temper tantrum.

But this is different. It isn't fair to expect players to commit several years of their lives when they only have a tiny window to play basketball at a program that wasn't what they were sold. Collette was sold the ability to play for Stew, to compete for conference championships and make the tourney. It is clear the new coach is a jerk, and they won't be competing for anything. Why should he have to be miserable for the next three years as a result? He can pay his penalty and sit a year, then he should be able to go whereever he wants.