When Tennessee basketball walked out of Coleman Coliseum with a 79-73 win over Alabama on Saturday night, they didn’t just notch a key SEC road victory-they also played spoiler in one of the most talked-about returns in recent college hoops memory. That’s because Alabama center Charles Bediako was back on the court for the first time in over two years, and his reappearance raised more than a few eyebrows across the college sports landscape.
Bediako’s last college game came in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, when top-seeded Alabama was knocked out in the Sweet 16 by San Diego State. After that, the sophomore big man declared for the NBA Draft and spent two and a half years in the G League. But just days ago, he returned to the college hardwood, suiting up for the Crimson Tide in what the NCAA currently considers an ineligible move.
So how did Bediako end up back in an Alabama uniform? A Tuscaloosa County judge granted him a temporary restraining order, effectively pausing the NCAA’s enforcement and allowing him to play-at least for now. That legal maneuver gave him the green light to return against Tennessee, and it’s safe to say the reaction around college basketball was swift and intense.
One of the more pointed responses came from new Auburn football coach Alex Golesh. Speaking at the Senior Bowl on Thursday, Golesh was asked about the situation and didn’t hold back, seizing the opportunity to take a jab at his new in-state rival.
“Certainly fascinating from a legal side,” Golesh said. “Fascinating. How did it work out for them last weekend?”
That rhetorical question hit its mark. While Bediako showed flashes of the player Alabama fans remembered-dropping 13 points, grabbing three boards, and adding two blocks and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench-it wasn’t enough to push the Tide past the Vols. Tennessee’s win only added fuel to the fire surrounding Bediako’s eligibility and the broader implications of his return.
The drama didn’t end there. With severe weather affecting the region, the NCAA requested a delay in Bediako’s eligibility hearing. As a result, the courts extended his temporary restraining order by another 10 days, keeping him eligible-at least for now.
Alabama wasted no time getting him more involved. On Tuesday night against Missouri, Bediako was inserted into the starting lineup and responded with 14 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. It was a dominant showing in a blowout win, and a reminder of what he can bring to the floor-assuming he’s allowed to stay on it.
As for Golesh, his comments weren’t just about basketball. They were also a subtle reintroduction to the Tennessee faithful, many of whom remember him well.
Before taking the reins at Auburn, Golesh was Josh Heupel’s offensive coordinator at Tennessee from 2021 to 2022, helping to engineer one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The Vols’ high-octane attack during that stretch helped re-establish the program as a national contender.
Golesh and Heupel go back even further, having worked together at UCF before making the move to Knoxville. After his stint with the Vols, Golesh took over at South Florida, where he inherited a 1-11 team and turned them into a 23-15 program over three seasons.
His first year saw the Bulls return to bowl eligibility, and they made national noise this past September with a signature upset over Florida. For a moment, USF looked like a legitimate Group of Five College Football Playoff contender-until an upset loss to Navy derailed those dreams.
Now, Golesh is back in the SEC, and the storylines are already writing themselves. Tennessee and Alabama will meet again on the hardwood in Knoxville on February 28, and you can bet Bediako’s status will still be a hot topic.
But the real fireworks might come this fall, when Golesh brings his Auburn squad to Neyland Stadium on October 3. That matchup will mark his return to Rocky Top-and if his recent comments are any indication, he’s not afraid to stir the pot.
For now, all eyes remain on Bediako and the legal battle that could reshape NCAA eligibility standards. But on the court and on the sidelines, the SEC is already heating up-and we’re not even close to March.