Basketball Team From Alabama Disgraced by NCAA

Mobile, Ala. - The South Alabama Jaguars (21-11) were dealt an ugly hand by the NCAA after the selection shows on Sunday for postseason tournaments.

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South Alabama fell in the Sun Belt tournament to the Arkansas State Red Wolves. South Alabama finished tied for first in the Sun Belt regular season but could complete the Sun Belt sweep and secure a tournament bid in the NCAA tournament by winning the conference tournament.

South Alabama thought their season was done, until 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night, when head coach Richie Riley was contacted by the NCAA to announce the Jaguars earned a bid into the NIT tournament - a consolation prize for many teams who did not make the NCAA tournament. Riley accepted the invite and told his team they would be playing in the postseason.

However, there was confusion about the Jaguars' bid before the NCAA ultimately disgraced the Jaguars by pulling their offer to play in the NIT. UC Riverside (21-12) announced on Sunday that they would play in both the NIT tournament and the CBI tournament, although both posts have since been removed from X.

After some confusion, UCR announced they would be playing in the NIT.

"Prior to UCR being selected for the NIT, it was announced earlier that the team would be competing in the 2025 Purple College Basketball Invitational Tournament (CBI), which the Highlanders were extremely excited about. However, UCR will officially compete in this year's 2025 NIT and face Santa Clara on Tuesday, March 18," the statement read.

UCR accepting the NIT bid eliminated South Alabama from the field, resulting in an apology from the NIT to the Jaguars.

"After the NIT bracket was released Sunday evening, it was brought to the NIT's attention that one of the teams scheduled to participate in the tournament had also committed to a non-NCAA affiliated postseason event," the statement read. "In an effort to secure another participating team, the NIT prematurely extended an invitation to the South Alabama Jaguars, prior to learning that the original team chose to accept its invitation to the NIT."

The statement continued, "Regrettably, the NIT rescinded its invitation to South Alabama. We understand the emotional impact this confusion created, and we sincerely apologize to South Alabama, head coach Richie Riley, and the student-athletes for the error."

Jaguars' head coach Richie Riley was furious and took to X to voice his frustration.

"A meaningless apology to the most meaningful group of players I've ever coached! What they did to us last night is inexcusable," Riley said on X. "These guys in our locker room don't deserve this and it's sad your idea of making it right is a copy-and-paste apology!"

The Jaguars have not accepted any other postseason invite at the time of publication.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.