A method and system selects a subset of antennas from a set of antennas to transmit user data in a wireless communication system. The user data is transmitted during a first transmission time intervals (TTI) using a first subset of antennas. Pilot tones are transmitted during a second TTI using a second subset of antennas. Corresponding channel qualities are estimated for the first subset of antennas and the second subset of antennas from the user data and the pilot tones. Then, based on the estimating, a best subset of antenna is selected from the first subset of antennas and the second subset of antennas to transmit the user data during a subsequent TTI.