Bruce Pearl calls out Nate Oats for ‘selfish’ decision to play Charles Bediako
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Bruce Pearl is still going at it with rival Alabama, despite the fact the former Auburn head coach retired just before the start of the 2025-26 season.
On Tuesday night, Pearl – who now works for TNT and CBS Sports – went scorched earth on Alabama head coach Nate Oats for his comments regarding Charles Bediako. The former Alabama center signed a G-League contract and played with several pro teams in 2024 and 2025, but was brought back to Alabama and momentarily deemed eligible to play this season. A few days ago, however, Bediako was once again deemed ineligible to play college basketball, ending his 2025-26 campaign.
Oats was asked on Tuesday if he had any regrets bringing Bediako back, to which the Alabama head coach insisted that he would play Bediako 100 times again if given the opportunity.
Pearl responded to that notion by promptly calling Oats selfish. “What it tells me is Nate doesn’t really care about the SEC. He doesn’t care about the NCAA… I think it was selfish, and I think it was wrong.”
Bediako played in a total of 5 games during his brief eligibility period, averaging 10 points and just under 5 rebounds per game. Alabama finished 3-2 in such contests, beating Texas A&M, Mizzou and Auburn while falling to Tennessee and Florida.
Alabama is back in action tonight, with the Crimson Tide set to face off against Ole Miss.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
