For likely the 25th time this week, Steven Pearl was asked his thoughts about what is going on at Alabama with Crimson Tide player Charles Bediako, who was added to the roster midseason by Nate Oates despite the fact he had previously played in the NBA G-League for three seasons, therefore foregoing his college eligibility.
While Pearl has already come out and said that it is both a slippery slope by the NCAA and that his coaching counterpart is just trying to win games, the first-year Auburn coach also expressed something else as the Tigers prepare to face the Tide on Saturday in Neville Arena: empathy.
"I probably spent too much time thinking about this, but I kind of feel for the kid, in a way,” Pearl said. "I feel like, what happens tomorrow, if he gets denied? What does he do?"
Steven Pearl shows empathy toward Alabama's Charles Bediako
With a hearing scheduled for Friday on the temporary restraining order that was granted to Bediako that originally allowed him to suit up for the Crimson Tide, his status for the rivalry game on Saturday is in question. And while his lawyer have aggressively tried to delay the hearing, Friday could very well be the end of the road for Bediako’s return in Tuscaloosa.
Pearl has a valid point. What does a failed G-League player do if he can’t continue playing for the Tide? It seems that he has put all of his hopes in getting his eligibility back, and with that being the only option, he might be out of luck if the hearing doesn’t go his way.
“Are we setting this kid up for failure by letting him back?” Pearl continued. “I'm almost rooting for him to play on Saturday ... I know Auburn fans might be upset with me about that."
Auburn and Alabama face off at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday on ESPN2.