SEC Network analyst Richard Hendrix assesses Charles Bediako’s impact for Alabama
By Andrew Olson
Published:
In the college basketball world, Alabama has been the center of attention with the controversial return of Charles Bediako. An unselected member of the 2023 NBA Draft class, Bediako suited up for the Crimson Tide on Saturday night after spending the past couple of years in the G League.
SEC Network analyst Richard Hendrix stopped by WJOX’s McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning to discuss Bediako’s return.
“I think that Charles’s impact offensively was mainly because of the play of Labaron Philon,” Hendrix said. “You know, he’s in the top five in the league in assists and he leads the conference in scoring. But his creativity coming off of screen roll action and being able to find Bediako with lobs over the top was the biggest reason for Charles’s impact offensively.”
Bediako had 13 points in the game, making him one of 3 UA players to reach double figures in the loss to Tennessee. It was a notable uptick from the 6 points per game he averaged in 2022-23, his last full season at Alabama.
“He’s still a very raw player and not a technical player when it comes to the ball,” Hendrix continued. “I don’t expect him to feed it to him in the low post and him to do any back-to-the-basket moves, but I think he’s always been a really good finisher around the rim. And that’s where they’re going to be able to find him as an advantage in the offense with lobs over the top, dump-offs in the dunker spot and just finishing.
“But his biggest contribution will be what he can do as far as rebounding. And I thought that was the area that he actually did not do enough of for Alabama in this particular game. So the other teams will adjust and they will do what they have to do to neutralize him.”
Bediako had only 3 rebounds in his first game back. Tennessee out-rebounded the Tide 42-33 in the 79-73 win.
Hendrix also noted that he didn’t see the Vols do anything differently because of Bediako being on the floor.
“The main thing is that Rick Barnes and Tennessee did not change their game plan one bit with the addition of Charles Bediako,” Hendrix said. “It didn’t put an ounce of fear in what they tried to do. And they came out there and on the road in Tuscaloosa and showed exactly the style of ball that they want to play.”
Bediako played on Saturday after a court granted a temporary restraining order in his suit against the NCAA. His hearing for an injunction is set for Tuesday.
Even in the loss to @Vol_Hoops over the weekend, @rhendrix35 discusses where the addition of Charles Bediako for @AlabamaMBB can be impactful for the Crimson Tide moving forward!#RollTide @WJOX945 https://t.co/UzxzchCN5M pic.twitter.com/0TACtsO3Qw
— McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning (@macandcube) January 26, 2026
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
