After 11 seasons at the helm of Auburn basketball-and plenty of battles with Alabama along the way-Bruce Pearl knows exactly where the line is drawn in SEC hoops. And now, just months into retirement, Pearl isn’t holding back when it comes to the latest controversy surrounding the Crimson Tide.
Appearing on a podcast this week, Pearl weighed in on Alabama’s decision to bring back former G-League player Charles Bediako. The move has raised more than a few eyebrows across college basketball, especially after a Tuscaloosa County judge-who also happens to be an Alabama booster-granted a temporary restraining order that cleared the way for Bediako’s return to the floor. He’s already suited up in three games.
Pearl, who’s no stranger to NCAA scrutiny himself, didn’t mince words. His take? If Alabama keeps pushing the envelope like this, the NCAA might need to seriously consider keeping the Tide out of the tournament.
“I think they should consider it and talk about it,” Pearl said. “I lost my job because I had some kids over to a house and fed them when I shouldn’t have, and then I lied about it. I lost an 11-million-dollar contract and almost got knocked out of coaching.”
Pearl’s not just venting-he’s drawing a clear line between his own past infractions and what he sees as a much bigger issue. “If I had taken it to court, I’m not so sure I couldn’t have gotten an injunction and won that,” he added. “But I broke the rules and made a mistake, and it cost me… And they [Alabama] are in the SEC and choose to be a part of this, and the NCAA had said he’s not eligible.”
It’s a bold claim, but Pearl’s frustration taps into a broader question that’s looming over the sport right now: what exactly does eligibility mean in today’s college basketball landscape?
Bediako’s case is part of a new, murky chapter for the NCAA. Traditionally, once a player turns pro-especially in a league like the G-League-that’s the end of their college eligibility.
But this season, that line has gotten blurrier. Baylor made waves earlier by bringing back James Nnaji, a former 31st overall NBA Draft pick, to its college roster.
Now Alabama is doing something similar, and the ripple effects are being felt across the sport.
To be clear, this isn’t about Bediako lighting up the scoreboard. In Alabama’s recent 77-70 loss to Florida, Bediako posted a modest six points and seven rebounds before fouling out. He’s not exactly dominating the SEC-but that’s not really the point.
The controversy isn’t about star power. It’s about precedent.
If programs can start navigating around NCAA rulings with the help of local courts, what’s stopping others from following suit? And what does that mean for the integrity of the game?
Pearl’s comments reflect a growing concern among coaches and fans alike: that the rules are starting to feel more like suggestions, and enforcement depends more on legal strategy than actual compliance.
Whether the NCAA takes any action remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure-this isn’t the last time we’ll hear about the Bediako situation. And with March Madness inching closer, the stakes are only getting higher.