Most everyone is in agreement that college athletics are in the greatest time of uncertainty it has ever known, thanks to the convergence of name, image and likeness and the COVID pandemic. More years to play, much more money to stay in college and you wind up with 25-year-old millionaires competing against 18-year-olds a few months removed from high school.
The latest bizarre twist no one could have predicted involves players who left their college team now trying to return despite having spent time and earned money in the NBA's developmental G League.
A handful have made the move, most notably London Johnson, who moved from the G League Ignite to Louisville, though he has yet to play. Baylor raised eyebrows recently when it added James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA draft pick who played in the NBA Summer League and professionally overseas.
The latest is Charles Bediako, a 2023 Alabama player who spent time in the G League and sued the NCAA when it blocked his attempt to return to the Tide. Though the NCAA rule is clear, a judge overruled the governing body, granting a temporary restraining order.
So what's the sport to do? Every move the NCAA makes is overturned in the courts, while many coaches have requested for nearly five years for Congress to set clear limits. In the meantime, following Kentucky's 85-80 win over Texas on Wednesday, coach Mark Pope volunteered "my two cents" on the subject with a unique out-of-the-box solution.
Simply put, any team may use a G League player to win games, but the NCAA doesn't have to recognize it.
"The one stop gap that is kind of spreading right now, that maybe has some legs, is that the NCAA does get to decide who gets to go to the NCAA Tournament," Pope said. "They get to decide that. They have that power.
"They've been very, very clear about the rules they're going to try to enforce," Pope added. "They might lose in court, but they still get to decide what games count towards the NCAA Tournament."
Imagine a team winning enough games to be considered a No. 4 or 5 seed for postseason play, but being conveniently bypassed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The event is, after all, an invitational.
"I'm not saying that to penalize any team," Pope said. "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."
Pope believes it may be the only option to rein in the absurdity of it all.
"I think it's a place where we can take a stand. I hope we will," Pope said. "This game matters too much. The NCAA Tournament is 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 take a stand, to bring a little bit of sanity," he said, "because right now everybody is chasing their tails."