For a brief time on Sunday, it appeared South Alabama’s 2024-25 men’s basketball season would continue. Instead, the Jaguars are sitting home. South Alabama coach Richie Riley told AL.com that Sun Belt Conference commissioner Keith Gill and NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt called him around 9:30 p.

Gill released his own statement saying that South Alabama was "prematurely contacted by the NIT on Sunday as a potential replacement team to fill out the 32-team bracket. With all

South Alabama coach Richie Riley explained the situation to AL.com, too. Riley said the Jaguars were offered a spot for NIT on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. South Alabama ended up getting the invite because UC Riverside, who had received the invite first, had to decline to play in the College Basketball Invitation.