Frank Martin: “Disappointed and Disheartened” to Not Make NCAA Tournament

Mar 13, 2016 7:43 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Frank Martin’s face said it all Sunday. The look of devastation and defeat poured out of his 6’4 frame.

After winning more games (24) in a season than any coach in USC basketball history, Martin and the Gamecocks were left out of the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s disappointing. I’m disheartened for our players and for our fans,” Martin said Sunday after the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

Carolina finished the season 24-8, 11-7 SEC. The Gamecocks were a sure lock after ending the regular season with a road win against Arkansas. But after losing to Georgia in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament Friday night, even Martin admits, he didn’t have a great feeling.

“We were optimistic after beating Arkansas, and we were optimistic all week,” said Martin. “After Georgia, I didn’t get pessimistic, I just thought our seed wouldn’t be as good as what I thought it was going to be.”

Carolina has never made the Tournament under Frank Martin (4 seasons), but that’s not saying much for a program that hasn’t gone dancing since 2004 and hasn’t won a game in the Tournament since 1973.

One of the speculative arguments against Carolina that’s gained a lot of traction lately is USC’s non-conference strength of schedule. Carolina went undefeated in conference play, but the strength of schedule in non-conference ranked around 300th in the nation.

Frank Martin defended his team’s schedule this year saying many of the non-conference teams Carolina made contracts with had players transfer before even being able to play against the Gamecocks.

On Sunday, Martin seemed to think Friday night’s loss to Georgia in the SEC Tournament was the biggest argument against Carolina’s hopes for a Tournament bid.

Whatever the reason (s), the Gamecocks will not be going to the NCAA Tournament this season, despite winning 24 games. But both Martin and USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner said Sunday Carolina would like to play in the NIT and would prefer to host.

Carolina was picked Sunday night to be a number 1 seed in the NIT and will face High Point in the first round, but the time, date and city are still to be determined.

The biggest problem with Carolina hosting in the NIT is with the athletics schedule. Currently, the Carolina women’s basketball team is expected to earn a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which means the Gamecocks would host the first and second rounds of Tournament play the same week the men would host NIT games.