Charles Bediako Requests Postponement of Preliminary Hearing in Lawsuit Against NCAA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - On Wednesday, Alabama center Charles Bediako and his legal team filed a motion in Tuscaloosa Circuit Court to postpone the preliminary injunction hearing. Bediako's hearing has already been delayed once from its original court date of January 27, due to inclement weather in Tennessee, which prevented an NCAA attorney from arriving in Tuscaloosa. Bediako's hearing was set for this Friday, February 7, with Judge James Roberts granting Bediako an extension on his temporary restraining order, allowing him to play for head coach Nate Oats and Alabama.

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Judge Roberts then recused himself from the Bediako case, and Judge Daniel Pruet is the new presiding judge over Bediako's case. Bediako's legal team filed the motion with Judge Pruet, requesting that the hearing be postponed until February 16-18. In the filing, Bediako's attorneys listed discovery questions for the NCAA that they want answered before the hearing.

Bediako's return hasn't quite helped Alabama the way that the Crimson Tide had hoped, with Alabama holding a 1-2 record since Bediako rejoined the Crimson Tide midseason. Alabama fell to the Tennessee Volunteers in Bediako's first game back before defeating the Missouri Tigers last Tuesday, but lost embarrassingly to the Florida Gators on Sunday. Bediako's postponement would allow the seven-footer to play this Saturday against the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl of Basketball on Saturday, February 7. If Bediako is also granted another extension on the temporary restraining order due to the postponement of the case, he would be eligible to play for Alabama against Ole Miss on February 11 and South Carolina on February 14.

In his three games since returning to the Crimson Tide, Bediako has played 22.3 minutes per game, averaging 11 points, 5.3 rebounds, and two blocks per game.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.