Alabama’s Charles Bediako Games Will Count, NCAA Committee Confirms

The University of Alabama’s men’s basketball program will not face penalties for playing center Charles Bediako during his short-lived eligibility, NCAA Selection Committee chair Keith Gill confirmed. Bediako’s appearances came after a court granted him temporary eligibility following a lawsuit against the NCAA.

Bediako competed in five games between January 21 and February 6, including matchups against Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, Texas A&M, and Auburn, with Alabama posting a 3-2 record in that span. His eligibility ended when a separate judge denied a preliminary injunction, halting his return to college basketball.

Gill emphasized that the games Bediako participated in will count toward Alabama’s record. “Those games do count,” he told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. “You have to decide how you’re going to count them. The committee will apply our normal player availability process.”

NCAA senior vice president for basketball Dan Gavitt clarified the committee’s role, stressing that its job is to evaluate teams based on competitive merit and not to adjudicate eligibility disputes. “That’s not the basketball committee’s role,” Gavitt told CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. “The role is to evaluate these teams from a competitive standpoint and bracket and seed accordingly.”

1. Bediako’s Brief Return

During his five-game stint, Bediako averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 77.3% from the field. The 6-foot-10 Ontario native had previously earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2022 before leaving Alabama for three seasons in the NBA G League. After going undrafted in 2023, Bediako signed short-term Exhibit-10 deals with the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons, returning to Alabama under a temporary restraining order granted by a state court. His brief return allowed him to contribute immediately, providing interior scoring and rim protection for a Crimson Tide squad ranked No. 25. Despite his impact, the court ultimately weighed Bediako’s prior professional experience heavily against granting a permanent injunction, noting he was uniquely positioned as the only professional athlete seeking reinstatement in college basketball. He remains enrolled at Alabama but is currently ineligible to compete. The five games, however, have already been included in Alabama’s official record. The committee will treat them as any other contests for seeding purposes, ensuring the Crimson Tide’s overall performance accurately reflects what occurred on the court.

2. Impact on Alabama’s Season

Alabama has responded strongly since Bediako’s eligibility ended, winning two straight games against South Carolina (89–75) and No. 20 Arkansas (117–115 in double overtime). The Crimson Tide’s roster remains competitive despite losing Bediako’s contributions in the frontcourt. Currently projected as a No. 4 or No. 5 seed in most BracketMatrix forecasts, Alabama is positioned to continue its streak of NCAA Tournament success. The program has earned a top-four seed in each of the past three tournaments and has advanced at least to the Sweet 16 in each of those seasons. The team’s depth and experience have allowed it to absorb the loss of Bediako while maintaining a high level of performance. His brief tenure added key wins that may influence seeding and matchups in March, even though he will not participate further this season. Prediction market Kalshi assigns the Crimson Tide a 67% chance of advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2026, reflecting both the team’s overall strength and its ability to adjust without Bediako. His short stint, while historic in its legal context, is now a part of Alabama’s official competitive record.

3. Broader Implications

Bediako’s situation underscores the evolving intersection of NCAA regulations, athlete rights, and legal intervention in college sports. While the Selection Committee will recognize his games, the case raises questions about eligibility rules for players with prior professional experience. From a basketball perspective, Bediako’s on-court contributions during the five games demonstrated his value to Alabama, showing why the team fought to reinstate him temporarily. His size, scoring efficiency, and defensive presence provided a boost, particularly in SEC competition. Looking ahead, Alabama will need to rely on its remaining frontcourt rotation to sustain success. Sophomore and junior players will be called upon to fill the void, and the coaching staff will continue to manage rotations to maximize both offense and defense. Ultimately, the NCAA’s decision to count the games ensures competitive fairness in the bracket, while the legal precedent highlights the unique circumstances of players attempting to return to college sports after professional experience. For now, Alabama can focus on finishing the season strong and maintaining its position as one of the top programs in the SEC.