Admit it some of you clicked this thinking it was an NIT question.

Would you rather win 4 in 4 days and win the SEC tournament? And then lose in the 2nd round in a 3/6 game?

OR

Lose on Thursday to Texas but make the sweet 16 (and lose in the sweet 16)

Keep in mind - the teams that made the sec championship last year Florida and Auburn - both lost in the first round to Yale and Colorado last year.

Tennessee and Alabama lost their first SECT game but went to the E8 and Final 4 respectfully.

In 2023 A&M went to the championship but lost in the 1st round of the NCAAT

In 2022 Tennessee won the SEC then lost to an 11 seed in the first weekend.

I'm not saying it can't be done, it obviously can to have success in both tournaments but there is no doubt there is a tradeoff in how much you have left.

I would rather lose to Texas by 100 if it meant winning 1 more NCAAT game, after the last 3 years I couldn't care less about the SEC tournament including lifting that hardware, which to me would mean as much as the Players Era preseason tournament championship.

I'm all for just playing our top rec league team in the sec tourney… send a message

And don't get me wrong… if we are playing on Sunday I'm obviously hoping we win. Just saying I am not gonna be sad if we go 0-1 this week considering I think we almost certainly end up with a 3 seed no matter what.

I don't like the idea of losing our first game in the SECT and idc who the loss is to. I'd prefer to go 1-1 in Nashville. An 0-1 appearance just doesn't feel like you're carrying your best momentum into the tourney despite getting good rest.

But given your choices, I'd take the 0-1 and Sweet 16 appearance over an SECT title and early exit.

Edit to add…not to mention even though winning that second game against UT would be one of our best wins of the season, it won't matter to the committee because IIRC, the top 4-5 seed lines are already set at the end of Thursday night.

It is hard in almost any circumstance to consider losing to tu.

I want to see the Ags make an E8 before I die and the only way that happens is by getting a Sweet 16 first. I'll never hope we lose to sip in anything, but if it happens and our guys go into the dance that much more rested then so be it.

I think best case scenario is win the first game and then lose to Tennessee. Playing 4 games and then likely a game 4 days later seems like a recipe for disaster even if we are a 2 seed.

When I looked this up there didn't seem to be much correlation between getting to the SETCG and making a deep run in the NCAAs.

But If I already know we're going to lose in the Sweet 16 like you said then give me the trophy. If it's just a guarantee that we AT LEAST make the Sweet 16 then give me the NCAA wins.

If I already knew that it would be S16 then dip out I'd probably take the trophy. But in the moment further in big tourney is answer

The 'Rec league' team idea is actually interesting. If we play tu in that game they likely need to win to stay on the bubble…but if they win a game that Wade, Phelps, Payne, Solo, etc…basically any player on our team anyone recognizes doesn't play…is that the story and does it mean tu doesn't get the credit with the committee they might have by beating us full strength? Could we actually screw tu and get rest at the same time?

Neither.

I think for the psychology of the team, they need to win one at least to be confident heading into the NCAAT. Whether it be Vandy or tu, the team needs to avenge the loss and feel good about facing Tenn.

In those two runs at the SECT, we needed to perform well to ensure our appearance in the Big Dance. I can see how we ended up being the hungrier team in those matches. Now that we don't need the wins, the SECT is just a rite of passage on to bigger fish to fry.

JJxvi said:

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Id rather win a championship than make a sweet 16.

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For once I might agree.

The best basketball, by far, was played in the most dominant conference all time, the SEC. Winning the SECT doesn't get you any recognition, but the winner of that tourney will truly be able to say they beat the best of the best for a title.

would you rather:

have a billiard ball shoved up your butt

or

get a genie with 3 wishes



obvious answer is take the genie, cus then you could just wish for the ball

JJxvi said:

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Id rather win a championship than make a sweet 16.

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Id rather win the regular season championship

Our program is starved for championships. I will take a SEC tourney championship (especially this year with how good the league is) over a S16.

All your options suck.

Beat t.u.
Finish wherever in SEC tourney.
Make the Final F'n Four.

I'm curious why anyone would think this is an NIT question?

Conference tournament championship is nice. Regular season championship is nice. This year is the most meaningful one to favor the SEC over the broader NCAA tournament field with two likely one line SEC teams. But I think most would celebrate an E8 or F4 appearance longer.

Sweet 16

TXAGBQ76 said:

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I'm curious why anyone would think this is an NIT question?

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Oh you know. Just a new twist on an old favorite around here….

I guess I just don't GAF about conference tournament trophies. Nobody remembers who won the big 12 tournament last year or the acc tournament 2 years ago. Making the 2nd weekend is such a program builder of the hype and attention you get in the lead up to it.

TxAg76 said:

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All your options suck.

Beat t.u.
Finish wherever in SEC tourney.
Make the Final F'n Four.

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In fairness, both options have us winning an NCAA tournament game and a week ago 90% of this board thought that was a pipe dream.