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Bruce Pearl Urges NCAA to Consider Banning Alabama as Court Order Keeps Bediako Playing

A temporary restraining order keeps the center on the floor pending a Feb. 6 injunction hearing.

Overview

  • Bediako is competing under a Tuscaloosa court’s temporary restraining order after suing to regain eligibility following multiple G League contracts.
  • The NCAA previously ruled him ineligible, but the order blocks the association from penalizing Alabama while it remains in effect.
  • Pearl said the NCAA should consider excluding Alabama from the 2026 tournament, a stance that has intensified debate over competitive fairness and precedent.
  • The case was reassigned after the original judge recused, with Judge Daniel Pruet set to hear a preliminary-injunction motion on Feb. 6.
  • Alabama is 1–2 since Bediako’s return, including a 100–77 loss at Florida, as figures like Dick Vitale and Auburn coach Steven Pearl highlight the tension between NCAA rules and court rulings.