Tom Izzo’s been around long enough to see college basketball evolve - sometimes in ways that make even a Hall of Fame coach shake his head. And over the past month, he’s had more than a few reasons to do just that.
First, it was Baylor adding a former G-League player to its roster. Then came Alabama, pushing even further by trying to bring in Charles Bediako - a three-year G-League veteran - back into the college game. That move, in particular, struck a nerve, not just with Izzo but with a lot of folks who care about the future of college basketball.
What made the Bediako situation different wasn’t just the player’s background - it was the legal battle that followed. The NCAA ruled Bediako ineligible, but Alabama didn’t back down. Instead, they took the fight to court, and in a twist that raised more than a few eyebrows, a judge - who also happened to be an Alabama booster - granted a restraining order that allowed Bediako to suit up immediately after leaving the Motor City Cruise.
Let’s be clear: Bediako is a talented big man. He even played alongside Michigan State’s Jaden Akins at one point.
But his return to college hoops wasn’t exactly a triumphant comeback. He played five games for the Crimson Tide, during which Alabama went 3-2 and gave up 90-plus points three times.
For a team that’s struggled on the defensive end, the 6-foot-11, 225-pound center didn’t provide the spark they were hoping for.
Statistically, Bediako averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks during that brief stint - solid numbers, but not enough to outweigh the controversy surrounding his eligibility.
On Monday night, the situation finally reached a conclusion. Another Alabama judge ruled that Bediako would be ineligible for the rest of the season, ending his short-lived return to the college ranks. And while the NCAA wasn’t the one to make that call, it publicly praised the decision as a “common sense” ruling.
For Izzo, this has to feel like a small win - a moment of clarity in what’s become an increasingly murky landscape for college basketball. He’s never been shy about voicing his concerns with the direction the sport is heading.
He’s said before that he loves his job but hates what the profession has turned into. This latest ruling might not fix everything, but it’s a step toward restoring some guardrails around eligibility and competition.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats, on the other hand, isn’t thrilled. He’s made it clear he believes Bediako should’ve been allowed to play, and he’s frustrated with the outcome. But whether he likes it or not, this decision could set a precedent - one that puts a hard stop to the idea of former G-League players jumping back into the college game midseason.
And don’t expect Izzo to be reaching out to Oats to offer condolences anytime soon. These two coaches are looking at the game through very different lenses.
Oats is pushing the envelope. Izzo is trying to protect the foundation.
At the heart of all this is a bigger question about what college basketball is becoming - and what it should be. Monday’s ruling doesn’t answer all of those questions, but it does send a message: there are still lines that shouldn’t be crossed. And for coaches like Izzo, that’s a message worth celebrating.