NCAA is under the cosh at the moment. Some of the biggest names in college basketball are putting pressure on the NCAA to do what they believe is the right thing for the betterment of college basketball. Elites like John Calipari, Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo, Mark Few, and Matt Painter have called out the NCAA for the lack of regulations and accountability. Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies’ AD also made his feelings clear recently.
NCAA president Charlie Baker recently made a bold move and announced that the NCAA will not grant eligibility to returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract before. However, this decision invited a legal action from former Alabama player Charles Bediako. He decided to sue the NCAA in an effort to return to Alabama and play college basketball. This, in turn, made the NCAA go back on their decision and eventually give the eligibility to Bediako.
American sports reporter Pete Thamel recently reported what went down after the NCAA got sued. He also reported what UConn’s AD David Benedict said.
“UConn AD David Benedict tells ESPN that he’s imploring the NCAA and president Charlie Baker to take a stand in eligibility cases where there’s NCAA rules being circumvented by a judge’s ruling,” Thamel reported.
“If legally we can’t control or impose NCAA rules in terms of who can play and who can’t, based on a legal decision, the NCAA still has the right to determine what games count toward the NCAA tournament and what games don’t count,” Benedict said.
“The NCAA has deemed (Charles Bediako) ineligible. Fine, he can play (on a judge’s ruling). It doesn’t mean the games need to count toward the NCAA tournament. Otherwise, throw away the rule book and set it on fire. There are no rules,” UConn AD added.
Why Did NCAA Grant eligibility to Charles Bediako After Stern Decision
NCAA statement on Charles Bediako read:
“These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students.”
“A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules,” it added.
Read more:
Amid John Calipari’s Rants, Helpless Matt Painter Sends an Appeal to NCAA About NIL Rules
Can NBA Players Still Play in College? NCAA Statement Provides Insight
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