UC Riverside basketball navigates postseason tournament confusion

UC Riverside basketball received two postseason invitations for the first time in its Division I history. The Highlanders were invited to both the NIT and CBI tournaments but were unaware of the NIT selection until after accepting the CBI bid. Due to NCAA rules, UC Riverside chose to participate in the NIT, a more prestigious tournament. This decision left South Alabama without a spot in the NIT after they were initially invited, only to be informed later that the invitation was rescinded. The NIT's board of managers apologized for the mix-up, but South Alabama's coach criticized the communication surrounding the situation. UC Riverside finished the season with a 21-11 record and hopes to build on this success in the future.