Vicky Graff Photo
It started when Baylor signed Nigerian center James Nnaji, the No. 23 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft who played in the NBA Summer League, last month and then came the court ruling that former Alabama center Charles Bediako could play for the Crimson Tide. He went undrafted in 2023 but played three seasons in the G League. He will be 24 years old in March.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope didn’t get asked about either player after his team’s 85-80 win over Texas Wednesday night but he went on his rant about what is going on with the NCAA to end his press conference.
“I’m gonna take a minute talk about this. Just so you get our word here on what’s happening in the NCAA right now with eligibility. We’re all shaking our hands being like, ‘This is so incredibly creative,’” Pope said.
“I’ll give you my two cents, just so you have it. At some point, I don’t have hard feelings towards anybody making any decision. Because every single college program and college coach are the most competitive people in the world. They’re going to try and find any avenue they can to find an advantage. It’s just, it’s what we’re paid to do. It’s what we do.”
Pope has his own controversial idea on how to stop players like that from coming back to college to play.
“The one stopgap that is kind of spreading right now, that maybe has some legs is kind of a last stand is, the NCAA does get to decide who gets to go to the NCAA Tournament. Like they get to decide that. They have that power,” Pope said. “And so at some point, when they’ve been very, very clear about what the rules that they’re going to try and enforce, they might lose in court, but they still get to decide what games count towards the NCAA tournament.
“I’m not saying that to penalize any team. I’m just saying that because at some point it is important that we take a stand and regain some tiny ounce of sanity. And until someone tells me different, I still believe the NCAA has full power over who gets in the NCAA tournament and what games they count towards your NCAA Tournament bid.
“At the end of the day, that is what drives all of us. So hopefully we’ll take a stand there and clean this up for everybody. For everybody. Because right now, everybody is chasing their tails, and I think it’s a place where you can take a stand. I hope we will. This game matters too much. The NCAA Tournament’s too extraordinary a deal.
“These high school players and these young players and all these players matter too much. College basketball matters too much. It’s just time to just take a stand, bring a little bit of sanity to this deal, say it publicly, and let’s move forward. So let’s go.”
