After 11 seasons leading Auburn’s basketball program-and with plenty of SEC experience from his Tennessee days-Bruce Pearl knows exactly how heated things can get in the Iron Bowl rivalry. And now, even in retirement, he’s not backing down when it comes to calling out Alabama.
Appearing on a recent podcast interview, Pearl didn’t hold back when asked about the situation unfolding in Tuscaloosa: Alabama head coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide have brought former G-League center Charles Bediako back onto the college hardwood, thanks to a temporary restraining order issued by a Tuscaloosa County judge. Notably, that judge has ties to Alabama as a booster. Bediako has suited up for the Tide in their last three games, despite the NCAA ruling him ineligible.
For Pearl, who’s had his own well-documented run-ins with NCAA regulations, the situation hits a nerve-and he believes serious consequences should be on the table.
“I think they should consider it and talk about it,” Pearl said, referring to the possibility of banning Alabama from the NCAA Tournament if they continue to play Bediako. “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 point is clear: he paid a steep price for violating NCAA rules, and he believes Alabama should be held to the same standard. “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.”
At the heart of the controversy is a broader concern about the NCAA’s ability-or inability-to enforce eligibility rules in this new era of college basketball. Bediako’s return is just the latest in a string of eyebrow-raising eligibility decisions, including Baylor’s recent addition of former 31st overall NBA Draft pick James Nnaji.
For decades, the NCAA’s stance on amateurism and eligibility was rigid. Now, the waters are murkier than ever.
Still, while the optics of Alabama suiting up a former G-Leaguer are questionable, the on-court impact hasn’t exactly been game-changing. In Alabama’s recent 10-77 blowout loss to Florida, Bediako put up just six points and seven rebounds before fouling out. It’s a reminder that while the legal maneuvering and roster decisions may stir debate, they don’t always translate to wins.
That said, the principle matters. Pearl’s frustration isn’t just about Bediako’s stat line-it’s about the integrity of the system. When one program appears to be playing by a different set of rules, it undermines the entire framework the NCAA is supposed to uphold.
Whether the NCAA takes action or not, this situation has added another layer of tension to an already fiery SEC rivalry. And if Bruce Pearl’s comments are any indication, this debate isn’t cooling down anytime soon.