John Calipari calls out NCAA selection committee over SEC snubs

There are six teams from the SEC that earned bids to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Auburn and Kentucky are two seeds, while Tennessee is a three seed. Arkansas comes in as a four seed, Alabama is a six seed, and LSU is also a six seed. Texas A&M is a notable snub from the field, and Kentucky head coach John Calipari just sounded off on some of the snubs in this year’s NCAA Tournament from the SEC.

“Well, the Texas A&M thing I was really stunned at,” Calipari said of Texas A&M being snubbed from the NCAA Tournament field. “I just guess before our tournament started, they weren’t close. Now that’s hard for me to believe. They were 9-9 in our league, and down the stretch they played their best basketball. That’s what I call the eye test.

“But I mean it must have been that. It couldn’t have been any other reason because they played as well as anybody and they had an extra game. Wasn’t it their fourth game? The final game was their fourth game in four days. You knew they were going to let go of the rope at some point.”

Texas A&M entered the SEC Tournament as the eighth seed after going 20-11 overall and 9-9 against SEC opponents during the regular season. The Aggies then rattled off wins against Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas over their first three games in the tournament before falling to Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game.

But instead of Texas A&M making the NCAA Tournament, the Aggies were left out. They did make the NIT Tournament as a one seed.

Calipari thought Tennessee should have been a two seed in the NCAA Tournament

Additionally, Calipari voiced frustration with Tennessee being placed on the three line instead of the two line. Tennessee entered the SEC Tournament with a 23-7 overall record and a 14-4 mark against SEC opponents. The Vols then won three straight games over Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Texas A&M to win the SEC Tournament title. Many thought that Tennessee should have been a two seed.

“But I thought I was kind of surprised Tennessee got a three and not a two. I was. But again, that would have put Tennessee, Auburn, and us all on the two line. Which I would have been fine with. Like, that’s good. Probably deserve it.”

Arkansas and Alabama are together in the West Region, and Tennessee is the lone SEC team in the South Region. Auburn and LSU are together in the Midwest Region, while Kentucky is in the East.