How an SEC program boosted the NIT chances of Georgia basketball without playing a game

The chances for Georgia basketball to extend its season in the NIT got better Friday afternoon.

And continued to improve on Friday night.

That’s because another SEC program, Ole Miss, won’t accept a bid after falling on the wrong side of the NCAA tournament bubble.

Rebels coach Chris Beard told reporters Friday afternoon that his team won’t play in the NIT, according to David Eckert of the Clarion-Ledger. Ole Miss lost 80-71 to Texas A&M Thursday in the SEC Tournament.

The SEC and other power conference teams get two automatic bids now to the 32-team NIT field.

They go to the highest-ranked teams in each conference in the NCAA’s NET rankings that didn't make the NCAA Tournament field

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Ole Miss was ahead of Georgia in the NET. Now the Bulldogs, 17-16 overall after a second round SEC Tournament loss to Florida Thursday night, need Texas A&M to get in the NCAA Tournament as an eighth SEC team. The Aggies seemed to take care of that with a 97-87 win over Kentucky Friday night.

That would leave LSU and Georgia as the two top teams available for the NIT.

Ole Miss was No. 95 in the NET on Friday with LSU at No. 96 and Georgia at No. 100. Texas A&M is No. 46.

Texas A&M was in ESPN Joe Lunardi’s NCAA tournament projection on Friday morning, but the Aggies were not in the field for CBS’ Jerry Palm, but that should change now.

Georgia coach Mike White said Thursday night his team wanted to continue to play in the NIT.

“Would we be excited to be in it?” he said. “Absolutely. I don't care what tournament it is, we would love to compete. These guys would love to compete. At least I'm assuming they would right now. That's the feeling I get.”

The NCAA Tournament field will be revealed starting at 6 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

The NIT selection show is Sunday at 9:30 p.m. om ESPN2.