NCAA selection committee reveals how it will evaluate Alabama games with Charles Bediako
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
In the aftermath of Alabama center Charles Bediako being denied a preliminary injunction in his suit against the NCAA, the attention now shifts to how his games played for the Crimson Tide will impact the March Madness field.
The center saw action in 5 games this season for No. 25 Alabama after previously spending time in the G League from 2023-2026.
NCAA selection committee chair Keith Gill explained the collective thought process for the situation after the decision was made in Tuscaloosa’s court system.
“Those games do count. You have to decide how you’re going to count them,” Gill told reporters on Thursday, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. “The committee will apply our normal player availability process.”
The selection committee is operating with the intention not to punish Alabama for utilizing Bediako this season.
The big man from Ontario, Canada, averaged 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in his return to Alabama’s lineup this season. During his first go-around, Bediako earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2022.
Alabama has won its last 2 games since the verdict on Bediako, beating South Carolina 89-75 and edging out No. 20 Arkansas 117-115 in double overtime. Next up for Alabama is a road contest at LSU on Feb. 21 (6 p.m. ET/SEC Network).
According to BracketMatrix, Alabama is hovering around a 4- or a 5-seed in most tournament projections. The Crimson Tide have earned a top-4 seed in each of the last 3 seasons, and they’ve made at least the Sweet 16 in each of those same years.
But Nate Oats added Bediako to massage a flaw. Without the big man, will Alabama still be a favorite to win multiple games in the tournament? Prediction markets think so. Alabama has a 67% chance to qualify for the Sweet 16, according to the latest Kalshi odds.
