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.

South Alabama's season is over after the team's NIT invitation was rescinded in a manner coach Richie Riley called "unacceptable."  Riley told AL.com he was informed late Sunday evening that his team had been invited to the NIT due to UC Riverside declining its invitation because of a previous commitment to play in the College Basketball Invitational,

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.

The NIT action will air across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN+. The games will also be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app. The first round of the NIT takes place from Tuesday, March 18 to Wednesday, March 19:

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Another new NIT selection process announced in October by the NCAA will distribute 16 bids to "exempt" teams meeting certain criteria related to conference affiliation and advanced metrics. It marks the second year in a row that criteria for NIT access has changed as the event seeks to solidify its place in an evolving postseason landscape.