The Tennessee versus Alabama basketball game on Saturday night is making national headlines for a reason that many people are amazed at.
If you're in the dark, let me explain. Former Alabama center Charles Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order to return to college basketball. Despite entering the NBA Draft, going undrafted, and playing the last three years in the NBA G-League, Bediako is eligible to play against Tennessee in the game on Saturday.
Rick Barnes didn't shy away from what he thought about the situation, as he said, “When you make the choice to give up your college eligibility, you’ve given it up. Once they start that clock and they made that choice, they’ve made that choice.”
Rick Barnes on G League players coming back to college basketball: “When you make the choice to give up your college eligibility, you’ve given it up … once they start that clock and they made that choice, they’ve made that choice.”https://t.co/NhYj4Gh1Yi pic.twitter.com/aNFE0EGGUy
— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) January 23, 2026
Rick Barnes is 100% correct
When it comes to the Bediako situation, Tennessee is getting the raw end of the deal. They’re now set to face an Alabama team that suddenly adds a player who’s been competing at the professional level for the past three years. Talk about a tough break for the Vols.
Barnes makes a great point, when you make the choice to give up your college eligibility, you’ve given it up. It has been like that in college athletics for all of eterinity and now we are going to change it? I'm sure Bediako is a great young man, and this isn't about him, but about the overall craziness that college sports have become. He made the choice to leave, but now he gets to come back. Barnes makes too much sense here.
Plus, Nate Oats hasn't been shy either. He said, "We are planning to play him (Bediako). He's eligible to play. We're going to follow the court orders." So if you had any thought that maybe Bediako would sit out to accustom to the Alabama roster, you're mistaken.
The showdown tomorrow night should be very entertaining. All eyes will be on the primetime showdown with a former professional basketball player suiting up for the Crimson Tide. Tennessee doesn't have many allies in the SEC, but you can bet plenty of fanbases will be quietly cheering for Barnes to hand Oats a serious whooping.