Mark Pope wasn’t asked his opinion, but the Kentucky coach gave it anyway.
The college basketball world has its eyes on the Alabama Crimson Tide as the program plans to play Charles Bediako against Tennessee on Saturday.
The former Alabama center was granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday morning, giving him immediate eligibility to participate in all Alabama men’s basketball activities and games. Bediako hasn’t played for Alabama since 2023.
After Pope’s Wildcats beat Texas on Wednesday, the Kentucky coach gave his “2 cents.”
“I’m going to take a minute to talk about this just so you get our word here on what’s happening in the NCAA right now with eligibility,” Pope said, per The Herald Leader. “We’re all shaking our hands, being like this is so incredibly creative. I’ll give you my two cents, just so you have it. At some point, I don’t have any hard feelings towards anybody making any decision because every single college program and college coach are the most competitive people in the world. They’re going to try and find any avenue they can to find an advantage. It’s what we’re paid to do. It’s what we do.”
Still, Pope contends the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee could have the final say.
“The one stopgap that is kind of spreading right now that maybe has some legs is kind of a last stand,” Pope said. “The NCAA does get to decide who gets to go to the NCAA Tournament. They get to decide that. They have that power. At some point, when they’ve been very, very clear about what the rules that they’re going to try and enforce. They might lose in court, but they still get to decide what games count towards the NCAA Tournament.”
It’s the only way Pope sees the NCAA being able to have any say in any case like the Bediako situation.
“I’m just saying that because, at some point, it is important that we take a stand and regain some tiny ounce of sanity,” Pope said. “Until someone tells me different, I still believe the NCAA has full power over who gets into the NCAA Tournament and what games they count towards your NCAA Tournament bid. At the end of the day, that is what drives all of us.”
Bediako submitted a request Tuesday to Tuscaloosa Circuit Court, asking for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction to allow him to return to play college basketball for the Crimson Tide. The hearing set for Jan. 27 will make a ruling on the injunction for Bediako, who has already enrolled at UA this semester, per court documents.
No. 17 Alabama faces Tennessee on Saturday (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Coleman Coliseum.
