MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama basketball’s season may not be finished. After a loss in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, the Jaguars are waiting to learn whether they will receive an invitation to one of the national postseason tournaments.
Beyond the NCAA Tournament, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament will invite a combined 80 teams.
Erdmann: Decision Will Be in Program’s Best Interest
An invitation would not automatically mean South Alabama plays. Some of the tournaments operate on a buy-in basis, and schools may decline an offer.
Athletic director Joel Erdmann has said repeatedly that any decision on postseason play would be made “in the best interest of the program.”
Price Hopes to Keep Playing
The Jaguars are led by interim head coach Jeff Price, who took over after Ronnie Arrow announced his retirement in December. The university is preparing to conduct a national search for a permanent head coach, and Price is among those who will be considered.
“I think anytime your program has the opportunity to play in the postseason, regardless of what tournament that might be in, it’s something you want to do,” Price told AL.com. “It’s good for the players and the experience, it’s good for recruiting and I think it’s good for the program. I’m definitely hopeful we’ll get a chance to play again.”
Upsets Shape Sun Belt Tournament
South Alabama entered the Sun Belt Tournament as the No. 3 seed but lost to sixth-seeded Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers then beat second-seeded Arkansas State to reach the championship game.
Top-seeded Middle Tennessee was upset in the tournament by fourth-seeded FIU, which advanced to face Western Kentucky in the final.
Western Kentucky won a close championship game Monday night to claim its second consecutive Sun Belt title and a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Middle Tennessee is now hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA field.
