John Calipari praises SEC, calls out selection committee again

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari has been critical of the NCAA Tournament selection committee as the calendar has turned to March. Especially when it came to how they have treated the SEC and the number of teams that will compete in the Big Dance later in the month.

Calipari once again discussed how he thinks there should be eight conference teams in the NCAA Tournament and used the Florida Gators as an example. He said even though they are 9-8 in SEC play, they have still beaten some quality teams and the head coach thinks it’s just one of the examples showing how deep the league is.

“The teams we’re playing right now in this league, I don’t understand why we aren’t talking about eight teams in our league,” Calipari said. “Including Florida, who beat Auburn. ‘Uh well, they’re .500 in your league.’ What? Well, what does that mean? ‘Well, in another league.’ Wait a minute, we’re the best league. Then no one should get a .500 team in. Why would that be? Florida beat Ohio State. So, I don’t get all of this but the teams we’re playing are really good.”

Next Calipari used Ole Miss as an example and how competitive they have been throughout the entire year. While it may have been an 11 point loss for the Rebels, Calipari once again pointed out how deep the SEC is and how there should be more than just seven teams in the NCAA Tournament.

“You’re talking Mississippi and you’re telling me they’re the 12th best team in our league? Well, then how good is our league? They have a seven-footer. They have a guard that scored 25 and they got two players out that are injured. I mean, I come back to be — it just disappoints me when I am not hearing ‘they should get eight teams in. They should have eight teams.’ If we’re the best league, forget about all this ‘conference this.’ We’re the best league.”

Another issue Calipari has had recently is with the selection committee and where they will place the top four teams in the SEC. The Kentucky head coach wants his team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers, and Tennessee Volunteers in four separate regions in the NCAA Tournament.

When a media member pointed out that three of the teams were in the same region in a recent bracket projection, Calipari was not thrilled. He said there’s “no question” it’s something the committee needs to do in just over a week.

“That’s what should be happening and I am anxious to see our top four teams, are they all in different regions? They should be. Why wouldn’t they be in a different region? All four of the top teams… Give us the top 16 teams early so if someone wins out, you can’t say ‘yeah, they moved down.’ Can’t do it. You’ve already given it. But there’s other things on this. When your league is the best league, your top four teams should be in different regions. It’s a given. Do it. No question.”

Before the NCAA Tournament, the top four teams in the conference will have to face off against each other one more time in the SEC Tournament. Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, and Tennessee will all have double byes and will just have to win three games to win a conference championship.