The NCAA mistakenly notified the South Carolina men’s basketball team that they were in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Approximately 10 minutes later, the NCAA called back to let the Gamecocks know that they made a mistake.
Luckily, South Carolina had already seen the official bracket that was leaked publicly hours before the field was announced.
Here are more details:
According to USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner, Frank Martin and the Gamecocks were notified by NCAA officials around 6:30 p.m. on March 13, the day of the NCAA Selection Show, that they had been invited to the NCAA Tournament, with a record of 24-8.
Ten minutes later, NCAA officials got in touch with South Carolina officials again and told them their invitation was a mistake, Tanner said. The NCAA Selection Committee instead selected the Vanderbilt Commodores.
USC officials say they were not notified Vandy had made the tournament instead of the Gamecocks.
The selection of the Commodores set off considerable controversy among South Carolina fans and college basketball fans with many saying USC deserved to play in the tournament after a 12-year drought in the NCAA and a better overall record than Vandy.
“Our team’s a really good team. We deserve to have the opportunity to go to the tournament at least once you know. This is the best we’ve played in years,” USC Senior Elisabeth Leister said.
“I mean if they offered it to us and then take it away, that’s kind of messed up in my eyes,” said USC Senior Eric Patterson.
The NCAA has released this statement to South Carolina:
“Unfortunately, during the selection show a junior men’s basketball staff member mistakenly sent a text to a member of the University of South Carolina athletics department staff via an app we used for the first time during the 2016 tournament. The text was supposed to go to all teams, congratulating them for making the tournament. Regrettably, a text meant for another institution went to South Carolina instead.
While the Gamecocks were given serious consideration, at no time during the selection process was South Carolina voted in to the field. Ultimately, they were one of the last four teams left out of the tournament. I take full responsibility for this clerical error and apologize to Coach Martin, his staff and team, and the entire University of South Carolina community.”
