S. Alabama has NIT invite nixed: ‘Inappropriate’
Mar 17, 2025, 03:31 PM ET
South Alabama’s season is over after the team’s NIT invite was rescinded in a way coach Richie Riley called “undesirable.”
Riley informed AL.com he was informed late Sunday night that his team had been invited to the NIT since UC Riverside decreased its invitation due to a previous commitment to play in the College Basketball Invitational, a tournament with no NCAA affiliation.However, quickly after Riley informed his group that it would play in the NIT, UC Riverside left its commitment to the CBI and accepted the NIT bid.”… I inform [Sun Belt Conference commissioner Keith Gill and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt],’I’m going to tell my guys.’They’re like,’Proceed.’So I tell the team, “Riley informed AL.com.” [Gill and Gavitt] call back, whatever time it was, 10:45, 11 o’clock. Dan’s like,’No, UC Riverside is back in. I dislike that we had to do this.’
“This is undesirable. You can’t do that.”
The NIT and Sun Belt Conference called South Alabama’s invitation premature in statements launched Monday and apologized to the program.
“As the top staying at-large group not selected to the original field, South Alabama was prematurely contacted by the NIT on Sunday as a prospective replacement team to submit the 32-team bracket,” the Sun Belt said in a statement. “With all 32 groups accepting their NIT invitations, this opportunity did not materialize. We are sorry for the psychological effect this chain of events had on South Alabama’s student-athletes and want to congratulate Sun Belt Coach of the Year Richie Riley and his team on a historical season, consisting of a Sun Belt regular-season co-championship.”
The Jaguars ended up the season 21-11 and lost in the conference tournament semifinals to Arkansas State. UC Riverside completed 21-12 and 3rd in the Big West. The Highlanders are arranged to play Santa Clara in the preliminary of the NIT on Tuesday.
“We are disappointed that the NIT too soon extended an invite to our men’s basketball group to participate in this year’s tournament before verifying an area was offered,” South Alabama athletic director Joel Erdmann stated in a statement. “This was a preventable scenario that has actually made a negative effect on our student-athletes and coaches, so we appreciate and acknowledge the NIT’s apology.
“It is regrettable this invite was taken away from our program. However what will not be removed is the 2025 Sun Belt Conference champs banner that will forever hang in the Mitchell Center.”
Troy earned the automated quote into the NCAA tournament by winning the Sun Belt Conference tourney previously this month. Troy beat Arkansas State in the final after the Red Wolves upset top-seeded South Alabama.
“We comprehend the psychological effect this confusion produced,” Gavitt stated in a declaration. “And we sincerely say sorry to South Alabama, head coach Richie Riley and all the student-athletes for the error.”
The Associated Press added to this report.