South Alabama has NIT invitation rescinded in college basketball mess: ‘Absolute joke’

New York Post - Mar 18th, 2025

South Alabama experienced a shocking turn of events when their invitation to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) was rescinded just an hour after being extended. The invite was initially offered by Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt. This unforeseen retraction occurred because UC Riverside, who had initially committed to the College Basketball Invitational, reversed their decision and accepted the NIT invitation. South Alabama's head coach Richie Riley expressed his frustration, describing the situation as unfair and disheartening for his players, who had been informed of their participation before the invite was withdrawn.

This blunder by the NCAA highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls in managing tournament invitations, particularly when commitments are prematurely made public. The incident underscores the emotional and reputational impact such errors can have on college teams and their morale. South Alabama, having finished their season with a strong 21-11 record and a share of the Sun Belt regular-season title, now faces an abrupt end without the opportunity to compete further. The episode raises questions about the processes within the NCAA and the need for more stringent checks to prevent such avoidable mistakes, as noted by South Alabama’s athletic director, Joel Erdmann.

Ncaa Uc Riverside Dan Gavitt South Alabama Nit Richie Riley Keith Gill College Basketball Invitational

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RATING

7.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a detailed and accurate account of the events surrounding South Alabama's NIT invitation and its subsequent rescission. It effectively captures the emotional impact on the team and includes credible sources, such as direct quotes from Coach Richie Riley and an official statement from the NIT. However, the article could benefit from a more balanced perspective by including views from other stakeholders, such as UC Riverside or additional NCAA officials. The narrative is clear and timely, engaging a niche audience interested in college basketball. While the story's broader public interest and impact are limited, it successfully highlights a controversial issue within the sports community. Overall, the article is well-structured and informative, though additional context and perspectives could enhance its depth and balance.

Accuracy

The story accurately presents the main factual elements, such as South Alabama receiving and then having its NIT invitation rescinded. These details align with the reported events, supported by direct quotes from Coach Richie Riley and official responses from the NIT. The narrative correctly identifies the timeline of events and the emotional impact on the South Alabama team. The article's depiction of the sequence and the involved parties is consistent with verified sources, ensuring a high degree of factual accuracy. However, the claim regarding the comparison to West Virginia and Indiana's situations is more subjective and less verifiable, slightly affecting the overall accuracy.

Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of South Alabama and Coach Richie Riley, focusing on their disappointment and the perceived unfairness of the situation. While it includes a statement from the NIT, the narrative leans heavily toward the emotional and critical response of South Alabama. The story could benefit from additional viewpoints, such as comments from UC Riverside or further elaboration from the NIT, to provide a more balanced perspective. The lack of these perspectives gives the article a somewhat one-sided view, emphasizing the grievance of South Alabama without exploring the broader context.

Clarity

The article is well-written and clearly conveys the sequence of events and the emotional impact on South Alabama. The language is straightforward, and the narrative follows a logical progression, making it easy for readers to understand the situation. However, the article could improve by providing more context about the NIT and CBI tournaments for readers unfamiliar with college basketball. Overall, the clarity is strong, but a bit more background information could enhance comprehension for a broader audience.

Source quality

The article uses credible sources, including direct quotes from Coach Richie Riley and an official statement from the NIT. These sources are authoritative and directly involved in the events, lending credibility to the story. However, the article could enhance its reliability by incorporating a wider range of sources, such as comments from UC Riverside or other NCAA officials. The reliance on a limited number of voices slightly limits the depth of the reporting, though the sources used are appropriate for the core narrative.

Transparency

The article provides a clear account of the events leading to the invitation's rescission, supported by quotes and official statements. However, it lacks detailed transparency regarding how the information was obtained and doesn't explore potential conflicts of interest or biases that might have influenced the reporting. While it effectively communicates the basis for its claims, additional context about the decision-making process and the roles of the involved parties would enhance transparency.