Alabama Faces Scrutiny Over Bediako as SEC Rivals Feature Former Pros, Too
As Alabama gears up for a heated rivalry game against Auburn this weekend, the noise around center Charles Bediako’s eligibility continues to grow louder. But here’s the twist: the Crimson Tide aren’t the only ones fielding players with professional experience-and head coach Nate Oats isn’t shy about pointing that out.
Bediako, who previously played in the NBA G League, is at the center of a lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules. The controversy has sparked backlash, with critics questioning Alabama’s decision to play him. But Oats has pushed back, highlighting a broader trend across college basketball: players with pro backgrounds are becoming increasingly common, especially in the SEC.
One of those players is Auburn freshman forward Filip Jovic, who will be on the floor when the Tigers host the Tide on Saturday. Jovic, now 21, spent time with Mega Basket, OKK Beograd, and OKK Spars Ilidza-three professional teams in Serbia-before arriving at Auburn. He was one of 38 athletes listed in a motion filed as part of Bediako’s legal case, which cited NCAA records confirming that all 38 were granted eligibility.
Sixteen of those players are currently suiting up for SEC programs.
Oats hasn’t name-dropped Jovic the way he recently did with Baylor’s James Nnaji, but his message has been consistent: Alabama isn’t alone in this. “The NCAA has already allowed professionals to play,” he said. “Virtually every team we've played this year, or will play, has a former professional on their roster.”
That includes Auburn. And while the Tigers’ head coach Steven Pearl hasn’t directly weighed in on Bediako’s status, he did offer a balanced take ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
“What's happening is being done within the guidelines that we're currently operating under,” Pearl said. “I understand what Nate's doing. That doesn't mean it's right or wrong.”
The debate has even spilled into podcast territory. In a recent appearance on The Field of 68, Oats took a jab at the age of some college freshmen with overseas experience.
“We’ve got 23-year-old freshmen that played four, five years in Europe on a professional team,” he said. “What are they working on?
PhDs?”
As for Jovic, he’s had a solid start to his college career, averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds over 21 games, including three starts. He may not be lighting up the scoreboard, but his physicality and experience give Auburn a frontcourt presence that’s hard to ignore.
Alabama and Auburn will tip off at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the game airing on ESPN2 and streaming available via Fubo, Sling, and ESPN+. Beyond the rivalry and the rankings, this matchup now carries an added layer of intrigue-one that speaks to the evolving landscape of college basketball, where the line between amateur and professional continues to blur.