Following the denial of a preliminary injunction in Charles Bediako’s lawsuit against the NCAA, deliberations have turned to the effect his participation in Alabama’s recent games will have on March Madness selection. Bediako, who played in five contests for the No. 25 Crimson Tide this season after a stint in the G League between 2023 and 2026, has prompted questions regarding the evaluation of his NCAA status and team impact.
Selection Committee’s Approach to Bediako’s Participation
Keith Gill, chair of the NCAA selection committee, clarified the committee’s stance after the court ruling in Tuscaloosa. He emphasized that the games Bediako played will indeed be factored into considerations for the tournament field.
“Those games do count. You have to decide how you’re going to count them,”
Gill said.
“The committee will apply our normal player availability process,”
he added, indicating that Alabama would not face additional penalties for fielding Bediako.
“Those games do count. You have to decide how you’re going to count them. The committee will apply our normal player availability process.”—Keith Gill, NCAA selection committee chair
Reporting from the committee room further confirmed that the selection committee intends to evaluate Alabama’s season without penalizing the team for utilizing Bediako’s services.
“Key detail from the committee room: NCAA cmte chair says the actual selection committee ‘will apply our normal player availability proces,’ re: Charles Bediako. The selection committee will NOT hold anything/punish Bama for playing Bediako.”—Matt Norlander, NCAA correspondent
Bediako’s Performance and Team Context
The Canadian center from Ontario made a notable impact after his return this season, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across his five games. Bediako had initially earned SEC All-Freshman Team recognition in 2022 during his original tenure at Alabama. His presence aimed to address specific roster weaknesses identified by head coach Nate Oats.
Since the court’s ruling, Alabama has recorded victories against South Carolina (89-75) and a narrow double-overtime win over No. 20 Arkansas (117-115). Their upcoming challenge is a road game at LSU scheduled for February 21 at 6 p.m. ET, broadcast on SEC Network.
Tournament Projections and Bediako’s Future Influence
Most projections, including those by BracketMatrix, place Alabama near a 4- or 5-seed in the March Madness tournament. This follows three consecutive seasons where the Crimson Tide earned top-4 seedings and consistently reached at least the Sweet 16. With Bediako reinforcing the squad’s interior presence, confidence remains high in Alabama’s potential to advance deep into the postseason.
Market predictions support this optimism; the latest Kalshi odds give Alabama a 67% probability of reaching the Sweet 16. The inclusion of Bediako appears pivotal for maintaining Alabama’s standing as a competitive tournament contender.
Discussion about Charles Bediako and how the selection committee will value the games he played for Alabama.
Committee chair Keith Gill: “Those games do count. You have to decide how you’re going to count them. The committee will apply our normal player availability process.”
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 19, 2026
Key detail from the committee room: NCAA cmte chair says the actual selection committee "will apply our normal player availability proces," re: Charles Bediako.
The selection committee will NOT hold anything/punish Bama for playing Bediako.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 19, 2026
