LSU basketball fans were hoping for a silver lining after the Tigers' early exit from the SEC Tournament against Kentucky. Unfortunately, Sunday night confirmed what many had feared: LSU will miss out on March Madness for the fourth year running.
The Tigers had a glimmer of hope for an NIT appearance, which would have marked their 10th in the program's history and the second under Coach Matt McMahon. Since 2025, the NIT has offered automatic bids to the top two SEC teams not heading to the NCAA Tournament, provided they accept. However, this year, LSU wasn't in line for an automatic spot and ultimately didn't make the cut when the NIT selections were announced.
Now, LSU fans will have to wait until early November to see their team back in action, as the Tigers look to regroup and prepare for the next season.