Ad Disclosure
All 16 SEC programs received invitations to postseason basketball tournaments, but only the 14 in the NCAA Tournament will keep the 2024-25 season going.
LSU and South Carolina each received invitations to the NIT. Both programs declined.
In October 2024 it was announced that the top 2 teams from the ACC and the SEC not selected to the NCAA Tournament would receive automatic bids to the NIT. LSU and South Carolina were the only 2 SEC programs not to make the Big Dance.
The Tigers finished the 2024-25 season 14-18 overall after going 3-15 in SEC play. Coach Matt McMahon reportedly felt like the injury situation was not worth the risk. LSU has been without Corey Chest recently due to a foot injury and Vyctorius Miller has been sidelined with an ankle issue. Jalen Reed was lost for the season in December.
It’s my understanding that @LSUBasketball would have a hard time even fielding a team for the NIT. Don’t have the numbers. And I think we all know it’s time to move to next year. #LSU
— Jacques Doucet New (@WAFB9Sports) March 17, 2025
South Carolina went 12-20 overall and 2-18 in conference competition, finishing last in the SEC. The Gamecocks also cited roster issues when declining the NIT invitation.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the NIT and the exciting opportunity it provides good teams to continue playing for a championship,” Lamont Paris said in a statement. “Unfortunately, due to some attrition on our roster with injuries we decided it was best not to participate this year.”
Pitt, Wake Forest and other Power conference programs also declined NIT bids.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
