Former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said the NCAA should consider levying harsh consequences against Alabama for its role in Charles Bediako joining the team midseason.
Bediako, a two-year starter at Alabama from 2021-23, was in the midst of his third G League season before being granted a temporary restraining order to return to college for the remainder of the campaign.
Pearl said the NCAA should consider banning Alabama from the NCAA tournament this year for allowing Bediako to return to the school years later.
“I think they should consider it,” Pearl said in an interview with OutKick on Saturday, Jan. 31. “I think it’s something that should be talked about. … So, the NCAA, Alabama went ‘Hey, we want to get Bediako eligible. We think there’s some argument that he’s getting treated differently as an American that played professionally vs. European kids.’ It’s a good argument to have but the NCAA said no.
‘They said, ‘No, he’s not eligible. You guys are part of the SEC, you’re part of the NCAA. You guys choose to be here. Therefore, you choose to play by our rules.’ And so, when we don’t like the ruling, what do we do? We go to court and get an injunction.”
Bediako’s temporary restraining order states the NCAA can’t impose sanctions or bans to Alabama as a result of Bediako being allowed to play. In other words, the NCAA can’t consider banning the Crimson Tide from the NCAA Tournament.
Bediako has been a huge boost to Alabama’s frontcourt already. He scored 13 and 14 points, respectively, in his first two games this season against Tennessee and Missouri. ESPN’s Seth Greenberg even called the Crimson Tide a national championship contender with Bediako in the fold.
Regardless, it’s a harsh statement from Pearl, who retired from coaching ahead of the 2025-26 college basketball season. Pearl coached Auburn from 2014-25 and, prior to coaching the Tigers, led Tennessee from 2005-11. His son, Steven Pearl, is in his first season as head coach at Auburn after taking over for his dad.
Pearl led Auburn to two Final Four appearances in 2019 and 2025 and accumulated a 244-123 record in 11 seasons.