It’s a week full of fantastic games, Top 25 showdowns that ordinarily would dominate the headlines. On Monday alone, Louisville visits Duke and Arizona goes to BYU, four teams with legitimate Final Four hopes.
But the on-court action will be overshadowed by the ongoing saga of Charles Bediako’s eligibility case. Bediako played two seasons at Alabama from 2021-23, entered the draft and has signed three different NBA contracts, although he has never played in an NBA game.
The 23-year-old, 7-foot Bediako sought to return to school at Alabama, but his eligibility request was turned down by the NCAA. However, Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge James H. Roberts granted a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the NCAA, and Bediako was impressive in scoring 13 in his debut Saturday. Roberts, it should be noted, is listed as a donor to Alabama’s athletic department, because of course he is.
Perhaps karma was at work when the Crimson Tide lost to Tennessee on Saturday. The Volunteers’ official account on X had some fun afterwards, posting the final score and writing: “@blue_coats, you’re next.” The Delaware Blue Coats are Bediako’s former G-League team. Well played.
