Tim Corbin explains how Vanderbilt has avoided playing under pressure during SEC Tournament

Head coach Tim Corbin led the Vanderbilt Commodores into Hoover for the SEC Tournament knowing that a good showing would likely secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament. Despite that, he also wanted to avoid having his time play under pressure.

Vanderbilt won its first two games of the SEC Tournament. With that, it appears as if the Commodores are secure with their spot in the NCAA Tournament. That success is something that Corbin says comes down to the team’s mindset.

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“Well, it’s all about the guys,” Tim Corbin said. “It’s all about how they should feel about themselves. Confidence for any human being is all about what you think of yourself and what your perception is, and I think that they know winning two games — certainly beating Kentucky at the end was a big deal for us — we needed that 13th win, but I think now it’s almost like let’s go play and have fun.”

Vanderbilt was one of five SEC teams to enter the SEC Tournament with a record of 13-17 in conference play this season. For all of those teams, a deep run at Hoover could help secure their place in the NCAA Tournament, which does create a sense of pressure.

That pressure is something that Tim Corbin’s Commodores handled well, beating Florida and Tennessee in their first two games.

“That’s really how we came into the tournament,” Corbin said. “It wasn’t a must thing for us. I don’t want our teams thinking like that. You’re going to collapse quick. We don’t need to be playing with pressure. We need to be playing with fun and excitement and aggressiveness, and we’re playing aggressive.”

Next up for Vanderbilt is a matchup with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Tim Corbin goes to bat for 11 SEC teams making the NCAA Tournament

There are several SEC teams who find themselves on the bubble this season. However, Tim Corbin believes that the conference has 11 teams worthy of making the NCAA Tournament.

“Well, I think they’re deserving. I mean, Florida — no one wants Florida in a Regional. Go ahead and try to pitch to [Jac] Caglianone and [Colby] Shelton and those guys, and their pitching too. Sully’s got a good team,” Corbin said.

“Listen, you’re banging yourself on the chest when you say we’ve got the best conference and that type of thing, but all 11 teams, in my opinion, are Regional teams. Now, whether they get there or not, I don’t know, but I’ve seen this league for a long time. Those are really good teams. So, I do believe they deserve the opportunity.”