Penny Hardaway, the coach of the Memphis Tigers, has made it clear that the team will decline any invitation to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) this postseason, stating "Zero" chance of acceptance and firmly saying "No sir" to such invites. Hardaway expressed a firm stance against participating in the NIT or any other postseason tournament, emphasizing his disinterest in further NIT appearances. This decision reflects a broader trend among high-major basketball teams, which are increasingly rejecting non-NCAA tournament postseason bids. Concerns over players entering the transfer portal and a desire to focus on recruiting from the portal are influencing these decisions. The trend suggests a potential shift in how power conference teams view the NIT, with many having NCAA tournament aspirations now reconsidering their participation in the NIT.
Will be interesting to see what the NIT field ultimately looks like, because if I’m a head coach, I want to focus on the portal window opening Monday, not a first-round NIT game. https://t.co/00ACXlYUmM
Another reminder that Memphis will be far from the only team to turn down an NIT bid, if Penny Hardaway stands by what he said yesterday. https://t.co/4dk0Gus7Kp
This, along with Memphis yesterday, is interesting. I’ve got a feeling most power conference teams that had NCAA aspirations are going to be on the fence about what to do with the NIT from now on. https://t.co/T6oBtfkcBe
Expect more teams to reject non-NCAA tourney postseason bids - especially high-major teams. Mix of worrying about whether players will hit the portal and not play, also just wanting to get going in portal themselves. https://t.co/FaYDN0d6hu
Penny Hardaway says Memphis will decline NIT invite if offered: ‘No sir’ https://t.co/3Z2GT3nGjX
"I’m just making that (clear) right now. I’ll talk to the (University of Memphis) administration, but I’m not looking to play in no more NITs, man — I’m sorry." Story on everything Penny Hardaway said about a potential NIT bid: https://t.co/MAvvFrfvF3
Penny adds that he'll have to talk to UofM administration but he personally has no interest in playing in NIT or any other postseason tournament. https://t.co/NGNsvrEuJp
I asked Penny if Memphis would accept an NIT bid. "Zero (chance)."
Penny on possibility of Tigers accepting NIT bid: "Zero. I'm not accepting any invitations. I'm not looking to play in any more NITs, man. I'm sorry."