The rivalry between Bruce Pearl and Nate Oats has always burned hot on the hardwood, but it just spilled over into something much bigger than basketball. The former Auburn head coach didn’t hold back this week when he called out Alabama’s Nate Oats for what Pearl sees as a blatant disregard for the rules - and for the rest of the SEC.
At the center of the storm is Charles Bediako, the Crimson Tide big man who originally left Alabama in 2023 to pursue a professional career. Things didn’t go as planned, and Bediako made his way back to Tuscaloosa. A judge granted him a temporary restraining order that allowed him to rejoin the team and play - at least for a short while.
That window closed on Monday, when the restraining order was overturned and Bediako was officially ruled ineligible. But not before he suited up and helped Alabama take down Auburn on Saturday - a game that had extra meaning, as it was coached by Bruce Pearl’s son, Steven, who took over the Tigers program after his father stepped away.
Pearl didn’t mince words when asked about the situation.
“Nate said he would play him 100 times again,” Pearl said. “What it tells me is Nate doesn't really care about the SEC. He doesn't care about the NCAA.”
That’s a strong accusation, especially considering how tight the SEC race has been in recent years, with Alabama and Auburn frequently battling at the top. Pearl’s frustration wasn’t just about the outcome of one game - it was about the principle of competitive fairness across the conference.
“You’re gonna care about your student-athletes - that’s fine,” Pearl continued. “But you're a member of this conference.
And you're a member of the NCAA. What about the rest of the team?
What about the rest of the players? Why should those five teams have had to play against an ineligible player?”
Pearl’s argument is rooted in the idea that rules exist for a reason - and when one program decides to push the boundaries, it affects everyone else. In his view, Alabama’s decision to play Bediako, knowing there was a chance he could later be ruled ineligible, undermined the integrity of the competition.
“The bottom line of it - he was ineligible,” Pearl said. “They appealed it.
They said he was ineligible. He went to court, and the court said he could play with some sort of injunction, and they played him, knowing there was a possibility he could be ineligible again.”
To Pearl, that decision sent a clear message: Alabama was willing to roll the dice, even if it meant putting the rest of the league in a tough spot.
“They didn't care about anybody else in the league. They didn't care about college basketball - and I understand that. But if you don't want to be who you say we are, then don't act that way."
That last line hits hard, especially coming from someone like Pearl, who’s never been shy about speaking his mind or standing up for what he believes is right for the game. And this isn’t the first time he’s voiced concerns. Pearl has previously suggested that the NCAA should consider banning Alabama from postseason play due to the situation with Bediako - a stance that underscores just how seriously he views the issue.
This is more than just a war of words between two high-profile coaches. It’s a flashpoint in a broader conversation about eligibility, governance, and how far programs are willing to go to gain an edge. And with both Alabama and Auburn continuing to play high-stakes basketball deep into February, don’t expect this tension to fade anytime soon.