What the Charles Bediako ruling means for Alabama and future NCAA eligibility cases

It became clear Monday which players are eligible to play college basketball.

Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge rejected Charles BediakoThe motion for preliminary injunction was filed on the same day as the temporary reenlistment order that marked the first time that a former two-way NBA player – who played three seasons in the G League but never in an official NBA game – was allowed to play for Alabama.

Bediako, who spent two seasons with the Tide between 2021 and 2023 before going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, averaged 21.6 minutes in five games played for Alabama between January 24 and February 7. The team went 3-2 in that period.

So what does this decision mean for future eligibility cases like Alabama and Bediako? ESPN men’s college basketball reporters Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf answer the most pressing questions.

What could this mean for future instances of former NBA and G League players filing NCAA eligibility cases?

Borzello: The line in the sand has always been this: Once a player puts his name in the NBA Draft, he knowingly gives up his NCAA eligibility and is no longer able to play college basketball. In this case, that line was directly challenged and, for now, the NCAA has prevailed.

The specifics of Bediako’s position were different from those of Baylor. James Nanaji. They were different from former G League players Thierry Darlan (Santa Clara) and Abdullah Ahmed (BYU). And they differed from former European professionals in the current college ranks. None of them had ever stepped foot on a college basketball court before.

There is now a precedent for future cases brought to the court aimed at challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules regarding former college players who have entered the NBA Draft and/or signed two-way contracts with the league. And it won’t be long before we see this tested again, with former UCLA guard Amari Bailey — who left the Bruins in 2023 and played 10 NBA games — looking to return to college.

Medcalf: This decision creates different categories of players attempting to join the NCAA. As Jeff mentioned, the G League players who were allowed to play college basketball this season had not played college basketball before. Even grandfather did not do it. The judge’s decision, which can be challenged in a higher court, establishes that any player who plays in the NBA after playing college basketball Not allowed to return to college basketball.

The judge aligned himself with the NCAA in this decision and singled out post-college NBA participation as a final ineligibility. This is a major ruling on the NCAA’s side, and if it goes into effect, any G League, two-way or NBA player who fits that criteria will be rejected.

What is Alabama’s outlook without Bediako?

Borzello: With Bediako at the helm, Alabama had close wins over Auburn and Texas A&M, a blowout win over Missouri, and a pair of losses to Tennessee and Florida. He started two of the five games, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks overall.

Where his departure will be felt most is from a depth perspective, as head coach Nate Oats has battled injuries all season. now we have to turn to him noah williamson As their primary big man off the bench. The former Bucknell transfer has struggled all season, not scoring since January 10 and not playing in either of the last two games. starting center aiden sherrellHowever, he has an opportunity here: He has enjoyed a successful campaign and coincidentally was playing the best basketball of his college career just before Bediako joined the program.

Medcalf: The Tide have the same issues they had before Bediako’s arrival: They are not a great defensive team. During his first stint in Tuscaloosa, Bediako was a key player for one of the top defensive programs in America. Even though they averaged 1.4 blocks during their second-chance run, the Tide ranked 106th in adjusted defensive efficiency over that five-game span and allowed opponents to make 54.1% of their shots inside the arc – one of the worst marks in the country, according to Barttorvik. And as Jeff said, their bigger concern without Bediako is the lack of players to take the field in the tough SEC.

Is Alabama in danger of the seat becoming vacant after three wins with Bediako?

Borzello: Annulment of wins has long been a form of punishment on the part of the NCAA, forcing programs that had players later declared ineligible due to NCAA violations to have those wins and records erased from history. However, in this case, it seems impossible.

The temporary restraining order allowing Bediako to play also states that the NCAA is prohibited from “threatening, imposing, attempting to impose, suggesting, or imposing any penalty or sanction” against Bediako or Alabama. And even if the order is no longer viable, the NCAA will, in essence, be punishing the Crimson Tide for what a judge ruled.

NCAA President Charlie Baker didn’t mention the idea of ​​voiding the win in his brief statement in the wake of Monday’s decision, but he did address it. An interview with Sports Illustrated Last week. “For a lot of good reasons, people who lose in court can’t punish people who turn around and win,” Baker told SI.

How can the selection committee evaluate Alabama’s running back with Bediako versus the rest of their program?

Borzello: The selection committee is likely to grade Bediako’s situation like it would any other player who plays only a portion of the season due to injuries, eligibility status, etc. When evaluating a team’s resume, the committee focuses its primary attention on how it performed with its group of players during the NCAA Tournament. As for Alabama, that will be a team without Bediako. So yes, wins over Auburn and Texas A&M matter, and they will be on Alabama’s team sheet on Selection Sunday. But when the committee is comparing the Tide’s resume to other teams during the seeding process, it will depend entirely on whether those wins came with a player who is no longer on the team.

Joe Lunardi: At the end of the day, the whole matter will be overstated in terms of ramifications inside and outside the court. Bediako was a factor in their five games, yes, but he was no Shaquille O’Neal. The Crimson Tide went 3–2, despite most projections. Bediaco’s incremental contribution was not enough to impact Alabama’s total numbers. Unless the team falls off a cliff that no one expected, the committee does not need to spend much time on the topic. And, if they fail, the Tide’s issues will be much bigger than one player.