**NCAA’s NIT Blunder Leaves South Alabama Heartbroken**
The NCAA’s recent mishap in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) has left South Alabama’s basketball team devastated. Late Sunday night, the NCAA and Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill informed South Alabama that they had received an NIT bid. However, just an hour later, head coach Richie Riley announced that the invitation was rescinded, leaving the team in shock.
### The Situation Unfolds
– **Who:** South Alabama basketball team and head coach Richie Riley
– **What:** NIT invitation rescinded
– **When:** Late Sunday night
– **Where:** NCAA and Sun Belt Conference
– **Why:** UC Riverside opted for the College Basketball Invitational, leading to South Alabama’s bid being withdrawn.
Riley explained that he received a call from Gill and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt at 9:30 p.m. confirming the invitation. However, after UC Riverside’s commitment to another tournament, the NCAA retracted South Alabama’s bid. Riley had already informed his players about their participation in the NIT, stating, “I said, ‘This is 100%, we’re in right?’ And they said, ‘Yeah, congratulations.’”
### Reaction to the Rescinded Bid
– Riley expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s just unfair for our players. We’ve got a team with zero NIL. They’re a bunch of underdogs that fought their asses off.”
– The NIT issued an apology, acknowledging the emotional impact of the confusion, but Riley dismissed it as a “meaningless apology,” emphasizing that the players deserved better.
### South Alabama’s Season Overview
– The Jaguars finished the season with a 21-11 record.
– They were tied with Troy, James Madison, and Arkansas State for the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship.
– South Alabama lost to Arkansas State in the Sun Belt semifinals, 74-71.
In light of this situation, how can the NCAA ensure that such errors do not occur in the future?
### FAQs:
**What happened to South Alabama’s NIT bid?**
South Alabama was initially offered a bid to the NIT, but it was rescinded shortly after due to UC Riverside’s commitment to another tournament.