Alabama coach Nate Oats said the program will continue to stand by former player Charles Bediako after a court ruling ended his eligibility, calling the decision disappointing but stressing the team must move on. “Obviously super disappointed in the ruling for Charles,” Oats said. “Regardless of the ruling, we’re going to continue to support him any way we possibly can here. And then with the team, we’ve got to move forward.”Watch the full sports conference in the video player above.Oats defended the decision to bring Bediako back for five games, saying it was the right thing to do for a former player trying to complete his degree and continue his development after time in the G League. “My job as a head coach is to do the right thing by our guys,” Oats said. “Charles is one of our guys. And that was the right thing to do by one of our guys.”Looking ahead to Alabama’s road game at Ole Miss, Oats warned against overlooking the Rebels despite recent losses, noting they showed improvement in a second-half comeback attempt against Texas.Oats said injuries and roster turnover have forced constant adjustments this season but emphasized that Alabama’s focus remains unchanged.”We’re going to do the best we can to win the games with who we have available, and we’ve got enough talent on this roster,” Oats said. “Florida is number one in our league right now. They basically play seven guys, so we have more than seven guys capable of playing. We will have guys more than good enough to win every game moving forward, and that’s going to be our goal.”The rulingCircuit Judge Daniel Pruet ruled Monday that Bediako did not meet the legal requirements for a preliminary injunction, setting aside a temporary restraining order issued in January that allowed him to rejoin Alabama’s roster pending the outcome of the case.Bediako, a returning Crimson Tide center, is challenging NCAA rules that permanently bar athletes from returning to college competition after signing professional contracts. He entered the 2023 NBA draft but went undrafted and spent the past several seasons playing in the NBA G League with multiple organizations, including the Motor City Cruise as recently as January.In his ruling, Pruet said Bediako failed to show he would suffer irreparable harm if he were forced to sit out while the case proceeds. The judge rejected arguments that lost financial opportunities or missing out on the college basketball experience could not be addressed later, noting that such losses could be calculated and compensated monetarily if Bediako ultimately wins the case.Pruet also ruled that Bediako failed to show a reasonable chance of success on the merits of his claims, which include alleged violations of Alabama antitrust law. The order states that Alabama antitrust law may not apply because the NCAA’s eligibility decision was made outside the state, and that the NCAA acted within its rules.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —

Alabama coach Nate Oats said the program will continue to stand by former player Charles Bediako after a court ruling ended his eligibility, calling the decision disappointing but stressing the team must move on.

“Obviously super disappointed in the ruling for Charles,” Oats said. “Regardless of the ruling, we’re going to continue to support him any way we possibly can here. And then with the team, we’ve got to move forward.”

Watch the full sports conference in the video player above.

Oats defended the decision to bring Bediako back for five games, saying it was the right thing to do for a former player trying to complete his degree and continue his development after time in the G League.

“My job as a head coach is to do the right thing by our guys,” Oats said. “Charles is one of our guys. And that was the right thing to do by one of our guys.”

Looking ahead to Alabama’s road game at Ole Miss, Oats warned against overlooking the Rebels despite recent losses, noting they showed improvement in a second-half comeback attempt against Texas.

Oats said injuries and roster turnover have forced constant adjustments this season but emphasized that Alabama’s focus remains unchanged.

“We’re going to do the best we can to win the games with who we have available, and we’ve got enough talent on this roster,” Oats said. “Florida is number one in our league right now. They basically play seven guys, so we have more than seven guys capable of playing. We will have guys more than good enough to win every game moving forward, and that’s going to be our goal.”

The ruling

Circuit Judge Daniel Pruet ruled Monday that Bediako did not meet the legal requirements for a preliminary injunction, setting aside a temporary restraining order issued in January that allowed him to rejoin Alabama’s roster pending the outcome of the case.

Bediako, a returning Crimson Tide center, is challenging NCAA rules that permanently bar athletes from returning to college competition after signing professional contracts. He entered the 2023 NBA draft but went undrafted and spent the past several seasons playing in the NBA G League with multiple organizations, including the Motor City Cruise as recently as January.

In his ruling, Pruet said Bediako failed to show he would suffer irreparable harm if he were forced to sit out while the case proceeds. The judge rejected arguments that lost financial opportunities or missing out on the college basketball experience could not be addressed later, noting that such losses could be calculated and compensated monetarily if Bediako ultimately wins the case.

Pruet also ruled that Bediako failed to show a reasonable chance of success on the merits of his claims, which include alleged violations of Alabama antitrust law. The order states that Alabama antitrust law may not apply because the NCAA’s eligibility decision was made outside the state, and that the NCAA acted within its rules.