2024 SEC Tournament Bracket (Update after 3/6 games)

#26
#26
Creeker said:
I agree with you here. As a fan, I want to win every game, but realistically the extra games of the SEC tournament really don’t seem worth it. They certainly do nothing in terms of seeding, committee has proven that.
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This ! SEC tournament seems irrelevant to the ncaa seeding. A&M got screwed last year and Tennessee a few years ago. I mean it would be great to win! They are hard to win and it would be special but for at least this year, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to focus on the the BIG one.
 
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#27
#27
TheMookieMonster said:
Feels weird to say, but I do kind of agree that I don't want to see us burn our team out right before the Big Dance. I'm not going to root for a loss, but I wouldn't mind the minutes being spread more evenly to some younger players. Besides, a loss to a good team in the Semis wouldn't be the worst case scenario. Gives us extra rest and can help reset the team mentally heading into the most important games. Sometimes a loss can provide some extra motivation and focus heading into the NCAAT as long as it's just one loss and you aren't riding a losing streak.
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I’m struggling with this but I’d lean to this scenario. I mean we are basically ending our conference season playing 4 Sweet 16 potential teams! Now if we hit a rough patch this next 4 games then I’d change my tune and go balls to the walls to win the SEC.
 
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#30
#30
Wearing ourselves out in a meaningless Tourney seems counterproductive, when there's a lot of other gold to be chasing.

The last thing we need as VOLS fans is another late season injury.
 
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#31
#31
I understand the thought behind not caring about the SEC tournament and not wanting the team to get worn out before the tournament that matters most. But the data doesn't really back the argument that you want to lose early.

I looked at the last 10 years of NCAA tournaments. 33 of the 40 teams came from P6 conferences, so those are the ones I focused on (i.e I don't really care that Gonzaga won the WCC or that Loyola Chicago won the Missouri Valley). So, of those 33 teams, only 5 lost prior to the semifinals, and nearly 60% of the teams played in the conference championship game.

Now, I do agree that the SEC Tournament has little impact on your seeding. Specific to conferences whose championship games are on Selection Sunday, I don't think the committee even watches those games. There is too much for them to do to alter any seeding based on those games.
 
#34
#34
NetworkVol said:
I bet the seniors want to play. If you are a basketball player...you want to play basketball?
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Shocker, right?

SAME PEOPLE BELOW..

“The SEC tournament means nothing. We should bow out early and rest.”

…the same people…

“We’re down 21-12 vs the 9-seed Ole Miss. We aren’t going far in the real tournament. Not this team. Same old Barnes. See yall in football season. This is peak Barnes. Hire someone else, idk who, but whoever we choose, I’ll want him fired after 1 year that he doesn’t make the final four.”
 
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#35
#35
wtmvol said:
I understand the thought behind not caring about the SEC tournament and not wanting the team to get worn out before the tournament that matters most. But the data doesn't really back the argument that you want to lose early.

I looked at the last 10 years of NCAA tournaments. 33 of the 40 teams came from P6 conferences, so those are the ones I focused on (i.e I don't really care that Gonzaga won the WCC or that Loyola Chicago won the Missouri Valley). So, of those 33 teams, only 5 lost prior to the semifinals, and nearly 60% of the teams played in the conference championship game.

Now, I do agree that the SEC Tournament has little impact on your seeding. Specific to conferences whose championship games are on Selection Sunday, I don't think the committee even watches those games. There is too much for them to do to alter any seeding based on those games.
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I just wish they would start the SEC tournament a day or two earlier. That would at least give teams that make it to the SEC tourney championship some more rest before playing in the NCAA tournament.
 
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#36
#36
tev.sm said:
I just wish they would start the SEC tournament a day or two earlier. That would at least give teams that make it to the SEC tourney championship some more rest before playing in the NCAA tournament.
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If you make the finals and play Sunday, you get a 3-4 day rest before your first round game. During the regular season you typically play Wednesday/Saturday, which is a 2-3 day rest between games. What’s the difference?
 
#37
#37
VolCalls said:
If you make the finals and play Sunday, you get a 3-4 day rest before your first round game. During the regular season you typically play Wednesday/Saturday, which is a 2-3 day rest between games. What’s the difference?
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It’s more of the fact that an opposing team in another conference who might have played their respective tournament final earlier would have more time to rest compared to teams from the SEC.

It may be more of an advantage to have less time between the finals and NCAA tourney to keep the team in rhythm but it also gives guys who are banged up to get the extra recovery time.
 
#38
#38
VolCalls said:
If you make the finals and play Sunday, you get a 3-4 day rest before your first round game. During the regular season you typically play Wednesday/Saturday, which is a 2-3 day rest between games. What’s the difference?
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It’s more of the fact that an opposing team in another conference who might have played their respective tournament final earlier would have more time to rest compared to teams from the SEC.

We would be playing 3 straight games from Friday-Sunday if we made the SEC tournament finals as a top 4 seed. 3 games in 3 days adds a great amount of fatigue on players, especially this late in the season.
 
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#39
#39
tev.sm said:
It’s more of the fact that an opposing team in another conference who might have played their respective tournament final earlier would have more time to rest compared to teams from the SEC.

We would be playing 3 straight games from Friday-Sunday if we made the SEC tournament finals as a top 4 seed. 3 games in 3 days adds a great amount of fatigue on players, especially this late in the season.
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Fair point, but whomever we play in the first round is going to be someone who had to win their conference tournament and will have also played three games in three days, albeit likely a few days before the SEC final.

Either way, both teams get the exact same amount of prep/scouting time, because nobody knows who they’re playing until 6pm Sunday evening.
 
#41
#41
Chris4Vols22 said:
In 2024, I'm struggling to see the benefit of the Vols competing for an SEC tournament championship other than the title. With this team, I say just play the bench and walkons. If we lose the first game, so be it. Gives us more time to prepare for the NCAA tourney.
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Agree completely. This is a group with a legitimate shot at going very deep in the big tournament, the second Barnes team with a potential championship look to it. The SEC tournament is small potatoes and not worth being worn out with short preparation time for the games that really matter. I'd be thrilled with the regular season SEC title and some time to rest and prepare for the NCAA.
 
#42
#42
VolunteerVFL said:
Shocker, right?

SAME PEOPLE BELOW..

“The SEC tournament means nothing. We should bow out early and rest.”

…the same people…

“We’re down 21-12 vs the 9-seed Ole Miss. We aren’t going far in the real tournament. Not this team. Same old Barnes. See yall in football season. This is peak Barnes. Hire someone else, idk who, but whoever we choose, I’ll want him fired after 1 year that he doesn’t make the final four.”
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Ha! That last part is very likely to happen around here.

Listen, only a fool would advocate losing on purpose, but running the starters 38 minutes and a short rotation trying to win the SEC might not be the smartest way to go. Play to win, but lengthen the rotation to make sure guys will be fresh for the real deal.

There's no exact science here, and players will want to play and compete - it's exactly why this group has a legit chance of a deep March run. It's on Barnes & Co. to find the right balance.
 
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#43
#43
TheMookieMonster said:
Feels weird to say, but I do kind of agree that I don't want to see us burn our team out right before the Big Dance. I'm not going to root for a loss, but I wouldn't mind the minutes being spread more evenly to some younger players. Besides, a loss to a good team in the Semis wouldn't be the worst case scenario. Gives us extra rest and can help reset the team mentally heading into the most important games. Sometimes a loss can provide some extra motivation and focus heading into the NCAAT as long as it's just one loss and you aren't riding a losing streak.
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Totally agree. We have all the parts on this years roster to finally break thru our "ceiling" in the NCAAT. I won't bemoan a first game loss in the SECT. Frankly, I think the SECT needs to be eliminated. Just a money grab. The team that wins the regular season has earned the title and that's that IMO. If I didn't think it would create backlash, I'd start my youngsters in the SECT and get them valuable experience. Our starters wouldn't see a minute of action.
 
#44
#44
VolunteerVFL said:
Shocker, right?

SAME PEOPLE BELOW..

“The SEC tournament means nothing. We should bow out early and rest.”

…the same people…

“We’re down 21-12 vs the 9-seed Ole Miss. We aren’t going far in the real tournament. Not this team. Same old Barnes. See yall in football season. This is peak Barnes. Hire someone else, idk who, but whoever we choose, I’ll want him fired after 1 year that he doesn’t make the final four.”
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Calm down, no one suggested either of those things.
 
#45
#45
Chris4Vols22 said:
Calm down, no one suggested either of those things.
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Yeah. I’m not suggesting our team drop games on purpose. I’m also not saying the tournament doesn’t matter. I’d be thrilled if we won the whole damn thing. But, it’s not like winning the whole thing did us much good in 2022. Did not impact our seeding and then we laid an egg 6 days later in Round 2.

I’m actually rather indifferent (meaning will be happy either way) about the tournament as long as we win that first game. I just don’t think losing would be a big deal because sometimes mentally resetting through a loss can be a good thing. Just look at UConn last year. They lost in their conference tournament and found an extra edge and gear where they steam rolled for 6 straight games to a national title.
 
#47
#47
VolCalls said:
If you make the finals and play Sunday, you get a 3-4 day rest before your first round game. During the regular season you typically play Wednesday/Saturday, which is a 2-3 day rest between games. What’s the difference?
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Teams don't play 3 games in a row. That's the difference
 
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#48
#48
VolunteerVFL said:
Word it however you want, champ.
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That's a far cry from “The SEC tournament means nothing. We should bow out early and rest” as you put it. It's just saying that there's little to gain, other than the title, by playing in it. No one said anything about it not mattering or throwing games. Just speaking for myself, you are certainly putting words in my mouth.
 
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#49
#49
Chris4Vols22 said:
That's a far cry from “The SEC tournament means nothing. We should bow out early and rest” as you put it. It's just saying that there's little to gain, other than the title, by playing in it. No one said anything about it not mattering or throwing games. Just speaking for myself, you are certainly putting words in my mouth.
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You’re a funny guy. I give you props for that.

Go Vols!
 
#50
#50
BernardKingGOAT said:
Teams don't play 3 games in a row. That's the difference
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I get that, but if we’re whining about playing three days in a row, getting four days of rest, then having to play a 15/16 seed and no better than a 7 seed two days after that, we don’t deserve to be in the national contender conversation.
 
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