Charles Bediako brings house down with first bucket back at Alabama
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Charles Bediako made his first appearance in an Alabama jersey in nearly 3 years on Saturday night, and his first bucket was almost poetic.
Baseline out-of-bounds play, screen and roll action for Bediako, and the seas parted. Bediako was left all alone under the basket for a slam that sent Coleman Coliseum into a craze.
Bediako opened Saturday night’s game against Tennessee on the bench. Alabama started Aiden Sherrell at center but head coach Nate Oats said before the game that he’d try to keep one of the 2 big men on the floor at all times.
“Same Charles that left us — catch lobs, rim roller, can guard the post well, shot blocker. Kind of familiar with our system,” Oats told Crimson Tide Sports Network before the game. “Great, great kid. Everybody loves having him here. He’s always been a great teammate. Fit in great in practice.”
He made his debut with 16 minutes and 11 seconds on the clock, and the home crowd gave him a warm ovation.
Alabama led Tennessee 39-36 at the halftime break. The Tide got 26 of their first-half points in the paint, with Bediako connecting on all 4 of his shot attempts. Three of his first-half baskets were dunks. He also had a block and a steal in the first half.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
