NCAA Ruling Delayed: Bediako's Eligibility Hangs in Balance

The hearing for Alabama center Charles Bediako's request for a preliminary injunction has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Consequently, his temporary restraining order (TRO), initially granted for ten days, has been extended for an additional ten-day period. This TRO allows Bediako to play immediately for Alabama and shields the university from NCAA penalties. The delay occurred because one of the NCAA's attorneys could not attend the scheduled hearing. The TRO was extended after the NCAA agreed that there was good cause. Bediako recently played his first college basketball game in almost three years, scoring 13 points against Tennessee on Saturday. He had previously played two seasons at Alabama before entering the NBA draft, where he went undrafted and spent time with G League teams. Bediako is seeking immediate reinstatement from the NCAA after the organization denied his appeal, citing rules that forfeit college eligibility for players who do not withdraw from the NBA draft by the deadline. The NCAA's senior vice president of basketball stated that enforcing these rules is crucial for maintaining a stable environment for student-athletes and institutions.