Charles Bediako's Alabama redux has come to an unceremonious end after five games.
Tuscaloosa County Judge Daniel Pruet officially denied Bediako's request for a preliminary injunction on Monday afternoon, making him immediately ineligible to play any further games for the Crimson Tide.
Bediako's attorneys and the NCAA did battle in court on Friday, and no decision was ultimately made by Pruet. That allowed Bediako to be eligible to play against Auburn through his preexisting temporary restraining order. Bediako scored 12 points and helped the Crimson Tide pull out a road win over the Tigers on Saturday.
BREAKING: A Tuscaloosa judge has *denied* Charles Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction to allow him to continue playing for Alabama, per court docs @aldotcom obtained.
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) February 9, 2026
In five games with Alabama, Bediako averaged 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 77% from the floor. The Crimson Tide went 3-2 in those games, with wins over Missouri, Texas A&M, and Auburn, and losses coming to Tennessee and Florida.
Will Alabama have to forfeit games that Charles Bediako played in?
You will see fans from other schools, particularly from the cow college across the state, proudly stating that Alabama will have to forfeit games that Bediako played in.
They are incorrect.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said as much when discussing the case with Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde before the hearing and subsequent ruling went in the NCAA's favor:
Have seen a lot on this app asking/thinking Alabama will have to vacate wins depending on Charles Bediako ruling.
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) February 8, 2026
NCAA president Charlie Baker all but addressed that question in convo with @ByPatForde https://t.co/Oz7WjdeAfX pic.twitter.com/5EI9cD8qgR
On the court, Bediako will leave big shoes to fill.
Aiden Sherrell has blossomed as a sophomore, but Alabama struggled in the minutes he was off the floor before Bediako's re-debut. Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson has been a bust and was completely out of the rotation for the last two games.
Williamson will have to play some minutes moving forward, and Nate Oats will likely have to rely on more small-ball lineups that will further expose the Crimson Tide's weakness on the glass.
Oats confirmed on Friday that Alabama would honor Bediako's scholarship regardless of the decision made by the court, so he's likely to remain around the program in some capacity while he finishes his degree.