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John Calipari is right, winning the SEC Tournament doesn’t help seeding

By Drew Koch

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Any member of Big Blue Nation knows what they’re going to hear from John Calipari this time of year. BBN knows that Cal hates conference tournaments. Well, after the results of this year’s SEC Tournament Championship, I’m starting to agree with him.

Okay, Big Blue Nation, you know what you’re going to hear from John Calipari this time of year. BBN knows that Coach Cal hates conference tournaments. He thinks winning the conference tournament has no impact on your tournament seeding. Well, after the results of this year’s SEC Tournament Championship, I’m starting to agree with him.

Seriouisly, what have we heard all week leading up to the SEC Tournament? That Kentucky was a No. 5 seed. Okay, I can live with that. They played in a tough conference, for my money the toughest conference, and finished 4th. The Cats had 10 SEC-wins, and quality victories over West Virginia and Virginia. They also beat Louisville, a team who narrowly lost to Virginia, by 28 points.

So, if the Wildcats were a No. 5 seed heading into St. Louis, how can they win the SEC Tournament and not move up at least one seed line? How can Arizona be projected as a No. 4 seed, win the Pac-12 Tournament, and not move up to a No. 3 seed?

Duke lost in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament and somehow maintained a No. 2 seed. Of course, we all know why that happened. Then you have Michigan, projected as 5-seed before the Big Ten Tournament, move up two spots to a No. 3 seed after beating Michigan State in the conference championship game. This makes ZERO sense.

I’m not saying there’s an exact science to this process, but as long as the NCAA Selection Committee continues not reward teams, who are already in the Big Dance, for winning their conference tournaments, John Calipari will continue to have a legitimate beef with the selection process.

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