Why the South Carolina Gamecocks electing to decline the NIT makes sense. Despite a rough finish in conference play this season, the South Carolina Gamecocks still managed to get an invite to the NIT due to 14 SEC teams making the NCAA tournament and the next two highest SEC teams automatically get a bid.

By its own choosing, South Carolina’s men’s basketball season is over. Despite finishing with a 12-20 record — and dead last in the SEC with two conference victories — the

In need of a team to take UC Riverside’s spot, South Alabama was brought in, but the Highlanders were able to get out of their CBI obligation and were available for the NIT. Because of that, the NCAA had to make a second call about an hour later to the Jaguars to inform them they were no longer invited.

Coach Richie Riley slammed an apology given by the NIT, which dropped his Jaguars after learning that UC Riverside was spurning the CBI tournament.