2 weeks Ago
COLUMBIA — The bubble giveth, and it taketh away. South Carolina seemed to be assured of an invitation to the NIT on March 13 despite its 12-20 record when Texas topped Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. At that point, the Longhorns were considered to be in the NCAA Tournament by expert ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, making it 14 SEC teams going to the game’s signature event.
That meant that the only two teams in the SEC not going to the NCAA Tournament, LSU and South Carolina, would be extended automatic invites to the NIT due to that tournament’s new selection criteria. But the NCAA Tournament bracket won’t be released until 6 p.m.
on March 16. Meaning that if Texas didn’t continue to win, and other teams around the country unexpectedly did, that projection could change. Texas lost to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals .
Boise State continued to wreck the Mountain West Conference tournament, dethroning top seed New Mexico State to advance to the tourney title game. North Carolina lost in excruciating fashion in the ACC Tournament to knock itself from “Last Four In” to “Last Four Out” in Lunardi’s updated Bracketology , and since Texas was already below the Tar Heels in metrics, the Longhorns fell with them. If there are 13 SEC teams invited to the NCAA Tournament, Texas would lead LSU and South Carolina in the race for the NIT.
The invitations would go to the “top” two teams as determined by an average of seven metrics, and the Gamecocks would finish below the Longhorns and Tigers in that equation. Yet there is always the chance of teams declining NIT bids, which would presumably give USC still another chance. The calendar and process to watch: 6 p.
m. March 16: NCAA Tournament Selection Show. USC will count the SEC teams selected.
If there are 14, the NIT bid is very real. If there are less than 14, it’s shaky. 8 p.
m. March 16: NCAA Women’s Tournament Selection Show. USC’s defending national champion women’s team will find out its postseason journey, which will begin with two games at Colonial Life Arena, the first played March 21-22.
That NCAA regional may include a “First Four” game between teams seeded 65-68, which would be played March 19-20. If there is a “First Four” game scheduled for March 19, it seems to be a good indicator that there won’t be anything else at CLA before the NCAA Women’s Tournament begins ..
. such as a home NIT game, which an SEC exemption team has the opportunity to host in the first round. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily rule out USC’s men from the NIT.
USC has confirmed that CLA could host an NIT game on March 18 and then still have the arena ready for the women’s tournament. 9:30 p.m.
March 16: NIT Selection Show..
