Nate Oats reacts to Charles Bediako eligibility ruling: 'I thought the courts would see the inconsistency'

Charles Bediako has likely played his last game in an Alabama uniform. Bediako was ruled ineligible by a court on Monday evening, a win for the NCAA. Plenty around college basketball are thrilled with the decision as Bediako made his way back into the sport after spending time in the G-League. Unsurprisingly, Nate Oats is not one of those people.

Oats provided his reaction to Bediako’s ruling shortly after the decision was made. He expressed disappointment in the matter. From the get-go, Oats has argued Bediako is similar to the other former professional players in college basketball.

“Obviously super disappointed,” Oats said. “Disappointed in the whole thing, to be honest with you. I didn’t think it ever should have gotten to court. I thought the NCAA should have made him eligible based on over a hundred current college basketball players — former professionals, most of them over in Europe. Some in the G-League. Guys being drafted. Rights owned by NBA teams, as in James Nnaji being eligible to play.

“I thought it was kind of a no-brainer with the NCAA. Then I didn’t think it would much of an issue. The NCAA hasn’t really changed much without courts forcing them to change. I thought the courts would see in the inconsistencies in the rulings and agree with Charles’ attorneys.”

Bediako left Alabama following the 2023 NCAA Tournament for the NBA Draft. He went undrafted and never made his way into the NBA. All of Bediako’s professional playing days were spent at the G-League level. Three different organizations were called home at one point.

A return to college basketball shook up the entire sport. Bediako secured a temporary restraining order via a Tuscaloosa County Judge, who was later recused from the case. The original temporary restraining order got extended before a ruling due to travel concerns. Bediako’s hearing took place on Friday.

No decision was immediately made, waiting until Monday. Arguments were made by both sides, with a judge ruling in favor of the NCAA. Folks in Tuscaloosa feel as if the wrong decision was made in this case.

Bediako wound up playing in five games for Alabama, with the Crimson Tide winning three of those. Saturday was one of them against a pretty important opponent — the Auburn Tigers. Oats expected to have Bediako moving forward. Instead, the second post-Bediako era will start on Wednesday night in Oxford vs. the Ole Miss Rebels.