The Alabama men’s basketball team’s post-season hopes still hang in the balance after a road loss to conference foe Louisiana State on Saturday.

But that’s not the important issue surrounding the team right now. Head coach Anthony Grant has suspended his four top players, and it has everyone wondering why. Forward Tony Mitchell was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team earlier this season.

Trevor Releford, JaMychal Green and Andrew Steele were suspended for violating team rules. The veteran trio packed their things and were sent home from Baton Rouge with a graduate assistant.

First, you have to applaud Grant for his decision. Anytime a coach chooses to suspend his best players, he has to be respected. But this suspension comes at a pivotal point when the Tide is fighting for a post-season berth in the NCAA tournament, which makes it even more impressive. Grant took a stand and sent a message to his younger players, letting them know that no one is bigger than the team.

Grant said, “Talent is a gift, but character is a choice.” Those words show that Grant values the name on the front of the jersey more than the name on the back.

These aren’t hotheaded freshmen that struggled to put their egos aside. The suspended players all have experience in Grant’s system and they know what to expect. Steele and Green have been here for multiple years. Green was suspended last year for conduct detrimental to the team. Steele battled back from injury to play for Grant. Releford is one of the team’s leaders and started most of the season last year as a true freshman.

Now the dilemma Grant faces is when to bring the players back. Mitchell was suspended for a totally different reason and has already missed two games.

For Releford and Steele, this is their first reported discipline issue. But this marks Green’s second run in with team discipline and suspension. The LSU loss doesn’t make or break the season, but the Florida game on Tuesday could. A win against a top-team like the Gators would look great on the Tide’s resume.

If Grant brings Releford, Steele and Green back for that game, it would appear to be only a slap on the wrist. A one game suspension would send a mixed message to the younger players on the team. It says ‘you will be suspended if you break team rules, but not for long.’

On the other hand, Grant has the rest of the season to think about. With those suspended players, the team has a great chance of making the tournament. Without them, chances are slim to none. Alabama barely has enough offense with those four (66.1 points per game), but without them they lose three-fourths of their offensive production (45.4 points per game).

For Grant, the decision becomes a tough one. Leave the players suspended and forfeit this season, or bring the players back and send a mixed signal to his younger players? That is the question.