The situation surrounding Charles Bediako’s return to Alabama basketball has stirred up more than just SEC rivalry-it’s raising serious questions about NCAA rules, legal maneuvering, and what happens when the boundaries of eligibility are tested in real time.
Let’s start with the facts. Bediako, a former two-year starter for the Crimson Tide from 2021 to 2023, made a surprising return to Alabama’s roster this season after spending the last three years in the G League. He hadn’t appeared in an NBA game, but he did sign a two-way contract-something the NCAA says renders him ineligible to return to college basketball.
Alabama disagrees. And now, so does a court.
Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order that’s allowed him to suit up for the Tide while his eligibility case plays out in court. His hearing is scheduled for February 6, just one day before Alabama faces Auburn in what’s now an even more emotionally charged matchup.
That timing didn’t go unnoticed by former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, who didn’t hold back when asked about the situation. Speaking in a recent interview, Pearl said the NCAA should consider banning Alabama from the NCAA Tournament for playing Bediako under the current circumstances.
His argument? If the NCAA ruled Bediako ineligible and Alabama turned to the courts to override that ruling, then the program is essentially bypassing the very rules it agreed to follow.
Pearl pointed to what he sees as a double standard. “Alabama went, ‘Hey, we want to get Bediako eligible.
We think there’s some argument that he’s getting treated differently as an American that played professionally versus European kids.’ It’s a good argument to have,” Pearl said.
“But the NCAA said no.”
That’s when, according to Pearl, Alabama took the legal route, seeking an injunction to get Bediako back on the court. And that’s where the controversy really starts to heat up.
Pearl’s concern isn’t just about one player-it’s about the precedent this sets for programs across the country. When a ruling doesn’t go your way, can you simply take it to court and keep playing while the legal process unfolds?
On the court, Alabama hasn’t exactly found instant success with Bediako back in the lineup. The Crimson Tide dropped a lopsided 100-77 loss to Florida on Sunday, falling to 1-2 since Bediako’s return. Whether that’s a chemistry issue, a defensive lapse, or just a tough stretch in a competitive SEC slate, the results haven’t exactly silenced the noise around the situation.
As for Bediako, he’s pursuing both temporary and permanent injunctive relief to finish out the season with Alabama. The NCAA maintains that his two-way contract disqualifies him from collegiate play, regardless of whether he appeared in an NBA game. But the legal system, at least temporarily, is giving him a path back.
This case is more than a one-off eligibility dispute-it’s a potential flashpoint in the ongoing evolution of college athletics. With NIL, the transfer portal, and now legal challenges to NCAA rulings, the line between amateur and professional is blurrier than ever. Bediako’s case is just the latest example of how those lines are being tested.
And with a high-stakes rivalry game looming and a court hearing just hours before tip-off, this story is far from over.