Florida Coach Todd Golden said Thursday he doesn’t agree that Charles Bediako should be able to play alabama In this weather.
But he also said it wouldn’t make a difference if Bediako is allowed to attend the teams’ Feb. 1 game in Gainesville.
“We’ll beat them anyway,” Golden said during an appearance.gator talk.” “If he plays, we’ll beat him anyway.”
Bediako’s situation is the latest to cause controversy in the game. He was a former Crimson Tide standout who declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, went undrafted and then signed a two-way contract with the NBA. San Antonio Spurs that year.
He Sued the NCAA earlier this week Alabama’s appeal to allow him to return to college basketball was then denied. But Wednesday, an Alabama judge A temporary restraining order was grantedWhich allowed him to immediately return to the Crimson Tide and college basketball.
The case could reshape the game in turbulent times. Although the NCAA has recently sanctioned international players and G League players with professional experience, those athletes had not previously played college basketball. This marks the first time that a player who entered the NBA Draft and signed an NBA contract after playing college basketball has been given a chance to return to Division I hoops.
Golden told Gator Talk he doesn’t think Bediako should be allowed to do that.
“But I don’t necessarily make mistakes [Alabama coach] Nate Oats because this is a very competitive place, and it’s our job to win games and do everything we can to be the best program in our specific league,” Golden said.
“This guy had a great opportunity. He was at Alabama for two years. He played there, he was there during the NIL era. He knew what he was giving up by declaring to go to the draft. He held out well before the date. It’s always been like, if you stay in, you sign a contract, you’re done. So it’s a slippery slope.”
The judge’s decision Wednesday came hours after NCAA President Charlie Baker reiterated that Bediako and other players who signed NBA contracts will not be granted eligibility to play college basketball. But in the ruling, Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Circuit Court Judge James H. Roberts Jr. ruled that the NCAA is barred from “threatening, imposing, attempting to impose, suggesting, or imposing any penalty or sanction” against Bediaco, Alabama, its coaches or players.
Golden acknowledged that schools and conferences’ hands are tied in such situations – “With all this interference from judges, the league can only do so much, the other member schools of the league can only do so much,” he said – but he would still like to see these types of situations prevented from occurring in college basketball going forward.
“We just need some people to stand up and start taking a stand,” he told “Gator Talk.”
The temporary restraining order is valid for 10 days. The full hearing on Bediako’s request for a preliminary injunction will be held on Tuesday, five days before the Alabama-Florida game.
Information from ESPN’s Myron Medcalf was used in this report.
