Scared? Kentucky head coach pleads for Alabama to be left out of NCAA Tournament after judge allows Bediako to return

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January 22, 2026

University of Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is now calling on the NCAA Tournament selection committee to leave Alabama out of March Madness after a judge granted former Tide center Charles Bediako a temporary restraining order against the NCAA that ultimately allows him to return to the roster.

Despite leaving school almost three years ago and playing two full seasons in the NBA’s developmental G-League, Bediako is now re-enrolled at Alabama and is eligible to play for the team against Tennessee this weekend.

Though no decision is final and a hearing is scheduled for January 27, Bediako is able to play prior to the hearing.

The situation is emerging as one of the wildest stories in college athletics for an array of reasons. But, many are up in arms about seven-foot-tall Bediako being allowed to return.

On Wednesday night, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope did not hold back when asked for his thoughts on this potentially landmark decision which could open the door for professional athletes to return back to the college ranks.

Without blatantly saying it, Pope strongly alluded to calling on the NCAA Tournament selection committee to punish the Tide and leave Nate Oats’ team out of the field.

Mark Pope on the current NCAA eligibility situation:

"The NCAA might lose in court, but they still get to decide who makes the NCAA Tournament… At some point, we have to take a stand, and regain some tiny ounce of sanity. This game matters too much."pic.twitter.com/4yxPPmZGMP

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) January 22, 2026

“The one stop gap that is spreading right now as kind of a last stand is that the NCAA does get to decide who goes to the NCAA Tournament, they have that power,” Pope said when asked about the issue of eligibility.

“When the NCAA has been very clear about what rules they are gonna try and enforce, they might lose in court but they still get to decide what games count towards the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m not saying that to penalize any team, I’m just saying that because at some point it is important that we take a stand and regain some tiny ounce of sanity…hopefully we will take a stand and clean it up for everybody, because right now everyone is chasing their tails and I hope we can take a stand. This game matters too much.”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.