March Madness may have shut the door on South Carolina, but the NIT might have left a window of hope open. As the Gamecocks' postseason fate hangs in the balance, a new selection criterion for the NIT could give them a shot at redemption. Will they get the call?
The South Carolina men's basketball team concluded their season with a 12-20 record, including going 2-16 in conference play, placing them as the 16th seed in SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks ended up being the first man out in the SEC journey with a 72-68 loss to Arkansas in the first round.
Despite the loss, there is a glimmer of hope for postseason play for the Gamecocks. Last year, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) changed their selection criteria, which grants two automatic bids to the NIT. These bids are given to the top teams in the conference that did not make the NCAA Tournament. Given the overall performance, South Carolina has positioned themselves for one of these NIT spots.
The official selections for the NIT will be announced on Sunday, March 16, following the NCAA Tournament's Selection Sunday. If the Gamecocks do receive an NIT invitation, it would allow the team an opportunity to gain more experience and end their season on a positive note.
Here's the schedule for the 2025 men's tournament:
- Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 16 on CBS
- First Four: March 18-19
- First round: March 20-21
- Second round: March 22-23
- Sweet 16: March 27-28
- Elite Eight: March 29-30
- Final Four: April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
- NCAA championship game: April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas