Steven Pearl could have taken the low road when asked about Alabama’s Nate Oats adding Charles Bediako to the Crimson Tide roster mid-season despite the fact Bediako had played in the NBA G-League the past three years, but the Auburn head coach instead took the high road.
“All Nate is trying to do is win basketball games, that’s what we’re all trying to do,” Pearl said at the Greater Birmingham Tipoff Club on Monday. “I can’t say whether that’s right or wrong, that’s not my place… He’s trying to put his team in the best position to win games, and I get that.”
The first-year Auburn coach has already spoken out against the situation, calling it a “slippery slope” for college basketball when teams can add a player who had already foregone their college eligibility and return after playing professionally.
Charles Bediako not influencing Tide
Florida fans made it clear how they felt on Sunday in the Gators’ rout of the Crimson Tide, shouting “G-League dropout!” when Bediako was at the line, and Steven’s father, Bruce Pearl, casually mentioned the idea of the NCAA banning Alabama from the NCAA Tournament if Bediako is still on the roster.
For Pearl, it might be a suave move in an attempt not to make Bediako and the Crimson Tide mad as they come to Neville Arena on Saturday for the first showdown between the two bitter rivals of the season. Another hearing will take place on Friday as a new judge sits on the case after the previous one, an Alabama booster, recused himself after issuing the temporary restraining order that allowed Bediako to suit up in the first place.
And while people are up in arms over the signing, it hasn’t precisely helped the Crimson Tide, who are 1-2 since Bediako’s return, including the embarrassing blowout at Florida.