It may not be the NCAA -TournamentBut the enormous blunder of the administrative body in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) has one team of Livid.
South Alabama was informed by the NCAA and Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill, who serves as vice chairman of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, that they were expanded a bid late on Sunday evening.
But only an hour after doing this, says head coach Richie Riley tells Al.com That the invitation was withdrawn and broke the hearts of his program.
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South Alabama Jaguar’s head coach Richie Riley looks at the Mississippi rebels at CM ‘Tad’ Smith Coliseum in the first half. (Petre Thomas/Imagn images)
“It’s just unfair for our players,” Riley explained. “We have a team with zero zero. They are a couple of underdogs fought against their ass. And now I have to tell them that they are not in the nit. It’s just an absolute joke.”
For the NCAA -Tournament Bracket, teams like West Virginia were shocked that they didn’t get it, but they were also on the bubble. South -Alabama gets the invitation to let him tear a much worse pill to swallow.
Riley described the situation to Al.com and said that Gill and NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball then Gavitt called him on Sunday at 9.30 pm with the invitation because UC Riverside was dedicated to the Basketball Invitational College instead.
However, that dedication came before UC Riverside the NIT invitation was expanded. With UC Riverside who wanted to enter, the NCAA has withdrawn the offer of South Alabama to get it back.
Riley said he had already told his players that they would participate in the NIT.
South Alabama Jaguar’s head coach Richie Riley talks to forward Barry Dunning Jr. (22) and guard John Broom (14) during the first half against the Mississippi rebels at CM ‘Tad’ Smith Coliseum. (Petre Thomas-IMagnement Images)
“I said,” This is 100%, we’re there, right? ” And they said: “Congratulations.
“… I say them,” I’m going to tell my boys. ” They are like, “Go ahead.” So I tell the team.
The NIT has issued an apology statement to South Alabama and said that they understand the “emotional impact that this confusion has created”. Riley did not hear that, but called the statement a “pointless apology” on X.
“What they did to us last night is unforgivable!” Riley’s x post went on. “These guys in our dressing room do not deserve this and it is sad that your idea to make up for it is a copy and apology!”
South Alabama Head Coach Richie Riley sees his team playing against Alabama in Coleman Coliseum. (Gary Cosby Jr./usa Today Sports)
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The Jaguars had a record of 21-11 on the season, which was connected to Troy, James Madison and Arkansas State for the regular Sun Belt Conference seasonal championship. They would further lose from the state of Arkansas in the semi-final of the Sun Belt, 74-71.
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