Bediako situation, legal question

[Spaceman213J]

A judge ruled that Charles Bediako who left and signed a 2 way contract with an NBA team could return to 'Bama to play ball despite the NCAA declaring him ineligible.
For any lawyers or anyone who is familiar with the law, if Alabama doesn't win an automatic seed, could the NCAA 'snub' them saying are using an ineligible player and believe that will be the ruling down the line if this is still going on? Also, surprise the judge is from Tuscaloosa.

 

[bendm]

That would be delicious

 

[bendm]

Also let’s bring back Sanogo next year

 

[auror]

A judge ruled that Charles Bediako who left and signed a 2 way contract with an NBA team could return to 'Bama to play ball despite the NCAA declaring him ineligible.
For any lawyers or anyone who is familiar with the law, if Alabama doesn't win an automatic seed, could the NCAA 'snub' them saying are using an ineligible player and believe that will be the ruling down the line if this is still going on? Also, surprise the judge is from Tuscaloosa.

No.

Read point 3.

 

[Ha Who]

Roberts received his undergraduate degree from The University of South Florida and his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University

 

[NJHusky]

Roberts received his undergraduate degree from The University of South Florida and his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University

This may be his major achievement in the legal field. He would have to move if he didn’t grant it

So the ncaa, the governing body, can’t determine compliance with its own rule.

Judges are going off the rails

 

[Umami Zen]

Looks like Coach Nate O is trying to improve his Quad 1 record before Selection Sunday. LOL

 

[REB1094]

I wish Adama didn’t play 13 NBA games. In this clown show, he’d be eligible to come back and finish the year lmao

 

[ec33]

I wish Adama didn’t play 13 NBA games. In this clown show, he’d be eligible to come back and finish the year lmao

Why should that disqualify him legally speaking? "Against the NCAA rules" does not seem to be a barrier.

Seriously, it is going to take UConn trying to do something to get some actual barriers put in place because you know the NCAA will move mountains to mess with UConn.

 

[Mr. French]

I can’t believe some judge from Alabama is going rogue, that’s so opposed to 2026 vibes

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Just as a thought experiment…which of our former players would be eligible to return under current landscape?

 

[caw]

Just as a thought experiment…which of our former players would be eligible to return under current landscape?

If the bar is under 4 full years played and/or no NBA games (and not including players who transferred out), none during the Hurley era I don't think:

Diarra - five years
Samson - four years
McNeeley - NBA games played

Clingan - NBA games played
Castle - NBA games played
Spencer - NBA games played
Newton - NBA games played

Sanogo - NBA games played
Jackson - NBA games played
Hawkins - NBA games played
Joey - five years

Martin - NBA games played
Cole - 4 years
Polley - 5 years
Whaley - 5 years

Bouknight - NBA games played

Vital - 4 years

Going further back Larrier maybe but that's as far as I'm going back.

 

[BGesus4]

If the bar is under 4 full years played and/or no NBA games (and not including players who transferred out), none during the Hurley era I don't think:

Diarra - five years
Samson - four years
McNeeley - NBA games played

Clingan - NBA games played
Castle - NBA games played
Spencer - NBA games played
Newton - NBA games played

Sanogo - NBA games played
Jackson - NBA games played
Hawkins - NBA games played
Joey - five years

Martin - NBA games played
Cole - 4 years
Polley - 5 years
Whaley - 5 years

Bouknight - NBA games played

Vital - 4 years

Going further back Larrier maybe but that's as far as I'm going back.

Why does it need to be one of ours?
How about Luke Harrongody?… just kidding I’d rather gouge my eyes out than watch him and his twin mom put on UConn colors

 

[pj]

I think Michael Jordan still has eligibility left.

 

[imno1]

This doesn’t really belong here but I didn’t want to start a thread.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/21/sport/football-mensah-duke-lawsuit-transfer-portal

 

[Dove]

I think Michael Jordan still has eligibility left.

 

[superjohn]

I can’t believe some judge from Alabama is going rogue, that’s so opposed to 2026 vibes

He's not though, judges around the country rule against the NCAA and Universities all the time.

 

[superjohn]

Just as a thought experiment…which of our former players would be eligible to return under current landscape?

Any of them.

 

[Mr. French]

He's not though, judges around the country rule against the NCAA and Universities all the time.

My statement meant that he was going against the NCAA rules and all common sense, whether other judges are doing it as well doesn't change that.

 

[superjohn]

My statement meant that he was going against the NCAA rules and all common sense, whether other judges are doing it as well doesn't change that.

I know and I pointed out he's not going rogue, he's doing what all the other judges are doing and going against any common sense rules the NCAA has.

 

[HooperScooper]

Interesting comment. Hmmm, so does this mean Alabama just kissed away their chances at the NCAA Tournament? Or would that go to court also and get struck down?

“If legally we can’t control or impose NCAA rules in terms of who can play and who can’t, based on a legal decision, the NCAA still has the right to determine what games count toward the NCAA Tournament, and what games don’t count,” UConn AD David Benedict told ESPN. “The NCAA has deemed (Charles Bediako) ineligible. Fine, he can play (on a judge’s ruling). It doesn’t mean the games need to count toward the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise, throw away the rulebook and set it on fire. There are no rules.”

https://www.courant.com/2026/01/21/how-uconns-dan-hurley-david-benedict-reacted-to-ncaa-eligibility-ruling-there-are-no-rules/

The RuffRuff Alternate Access™:
How UConn’s Dan Hurley, David Benedict reacted to NCAA eligibility ruling: ‘There are no rules’

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Could the NCAA just declare those games as “non-contest” similar to an exhibition or games against D2 teams? Is that a way you can circumvent the wording of “punishment”?

 

[superjohn]

Interesting comment. Hmmm, so does this mean Alabama just kissed away their chances at the NCAA Tournament? Or would that go to court also and get struck down?

“If legally we can’t control or impose NCAA rules in terms of who can play and who can’t, based on a legal decision, the NCAA still has the right to determine what games count toward the NCAA Tournament, and what games don’t count,” UConn AD David Benedict told ESPN. “The NCAA has deemed (Charles Bediako) ineligible. Fine, he can play (on a judge’s ruling). It doesn’t mean the games need to count toward the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise, throw away the rulebook and set it on fire. There are no rules.”

https://www.courant.com/2026/01/21/how-uconns-dan-hurley-david-benedict-reacted-to-ncaa-eligibility-ruling-there-are-no-rules/

The RuffRuff Alternate Access™:
How UConn’s Dan Hurley, David Benedict reacted to NCAA eligibility ruling: ‘There are no rules’

No, the judge's ruling said the NCAA can't penalize Alabama in any way.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

No, the judge's ruling said the NCAA can't penalize Alabama in any way.

I imagine the NCAA can appeal the ruling and have it heard by a higher court.

 

[auror]

I imagine the NCAA can appeal the ruling and have it heard by a higher court.

He has a hearing in a week. He only has 1 game for sure.