Steven Pearl Chimes in on Charles Bediako Saga

AUBURN, Ala. — Amidst the whirlwind of Charles Bediako's controversial lawsuit against the NCAA to obtain immediate eligibility and return to the Crimson Tide basketball program and the subsequent TRO allowing him to play in Alabama's matchup against Tennessee, coaches around the country have chimed in and offered their opinions on the situation.

This includes the head man of the Crimson Tide's arch rival in the eastern part of the state, Auburn's Steven Pearl.

"I look at it from the lens of, right now, college basketball coaches are having to operate under the rules and the guidelines that we've been given." Pearl said during his press availability Thursday afternoon, "And if you can get a judge to file a restraining order against the NCAA, you are within your rights to do so. It doesn't make it right, it doesn't make it wrong."

Pearl would go on to add, "Baylor and Alabama are the two examples, and Louisville has done it as well. They're doing what they think is in the best interest of their program in order to win basketball games. Like I said, doesn't make it right, doesn't make it wrong."

Baylor recently brought in fomer NBA draft pick James Nnaji. The 7-foot center was selected with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons but never signed an NBA contract. Nnaji was a member of FC Barcelona in 2023 but spent the last two seasons on loan at Girona and Merkezefendi respectively.

Pearl went on to discuss how he would have a hard time looking at the parents in his program, "I would have a hard time looking at the parents of our current kids in our program and say 'Ok, this is why we're doing this'. Like, if I brought back Sharife Cooper, I've got to tell Tahaad and Travis Pettiford, 'Hey, we're bringing back a former pro, he's gonna be earing into your minutes and your production.'"

Pearl acknowledged that he didn't know how it played out within the Alabama and Baylor programs, noting that he didn't know what kind of conversations Nate Oats and Baylor head coach Scott Drew had with their respective players.

Get our free mobile app

The Auburn Tigers are slated to welcome Alabama to Neville Arena on February 7 for the first edition of the Iron Bowl of Basketball this season before heading to Tuscaloosa a month later for both squads season finale.

For more Alabama Baseball, Basketball, and Football content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.