A little over a month ago, Tom Izzo was talking about the future of college basketball after Baylor added a former G-Leaguer to the roster. Then he was disgusted yet again when Alabama was fighting for three-year G-League vet Charles Bediako to join the roster.
The Bediako was especially different because the Crimson Tide were taking the NCAA to court over his eligibility. They ruled he couldn’t play, but a judge — who happened to be an Alabama booster — gave him a restraining order against the NCAA so he could join the roster immediately after playing for the Motor City Cruise.
Yes, Bediako was Jaden Akins’ teammate but decided to leave for another shot at college basketball. It was a dark time for college basketball.
Izzo has to be thrilled with the news that broke on Monday evening, however.
An Alabama judge ruled that Bediako would be ineligible for the remainder of the year, meaning he could no longer suit up for the Crimson Tide. His return to college basketball lasted just five games, and Alabama was just 3-2 during that stretch. And if you thought the 6-foot-11, 225-pound center would help Alabama’s atrocious defense, you were dead wrong. Alabama gave up over 90 points three times while he was back.
Bediako finishes his return having averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks.
Tom Izzo has to be thrilled with the news
Izzo has famously said that he loves his job but hates his profession, but this has to give him just a glimmer of hope regarding the future of the sport.
While the NCAA didn’t make the ruling because it was up to another Alabama judge, it did praise the courts for making a “common sense” ruling, per Al.com. Nate Oats is upset by this news, but as long as it means G-Leaguers can no longer return to college basketball, he has to be OK with it.
I doubt he’s going to get a phone call from Izzo soon to console him, especially since Oats thinks this is the wrong decision and he should be allowed to play.
Oats is part of the problem, Izzo is trying to be part of the solution.