The March Madness selection show wrapped up just after 5:40 p.m. Sunday, and to nobody’s surprise, the Kansas State Wildcats were not among the 64 teams selected. Unfortunately for fans in The Little Apple, meaningful postseason action will be hard to find.
Should Kansas State search for other postseason opportunities outside of NCAA Tournament?
Over the past couple seasons, a few tournaments have played second fiddle to March Madness. First it was the National Ivitational Tournament, better known as the NIT and later College Basketball Invitational.
In 2025, the College Basketball Crown was introduced as a third alternative. This season, however, things look a little different.
Kansas State’s postseason hopes started with an invite to the CBI, but according to reports, that won’t happen. The tournament was abruptly cancelled ahead of Selection Sunday, shifting the focus towards the NIT.
Historically, teams of the Widlcats’ caliber don’t make the NIT. In 2025, there wasn’t a single team in the bracket with a record below .500 on the season. The Wildcats, well… They ended the season 12-20. Not great if any sort of postseason play was on the radar.
Multiple teams declining NIT Invites could open the door
At the time of publication, three teams have already declined invitations to the NIT: Virginia Tech, San Diego State and incoming head coach Casey Alexander’s former team, Belmont. This happens for a number of reasons, including coaching changes, roster moves, etc.
Some teams also have little interest and opt instead for more time to focus on the regular season. In the case of all three, it likely falls under that umbrella. According to the Hokies, it’s the well-being of the student athletes and their recovery. For San Diego State, there was also little upside.
“I don’t feel that playing in another postseason event would benefit us,” Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher reportedly said in a statement.
That leaves the door open for a number of teams, including the Wildcats depending on how many other teams follow suit.
The real likelihood of any postseason action is slim
Programs in the midst of coaching changes rarely pursue postseason tournaments if they aren’t part of March Madness. For Kansas State, that likely means not expecting an invitation acceptance elsewhere.
The focus now shifts to assembling a new staff, navigating the transfer portal and preparing next season’s nonconference schedule. Convincing a group of seniors and potential transfers to play in a low-stakes postseason game simply isn’t a priority.
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