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Coach34: SEC West banner is nothing. Coach Cal: SEC title is nothing.

DawgatAuburn

DawgatAuburn

All-Conference
Apr 25, 2006
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<div class="headline"><h2>Calipari focused on seeding, not SEC</h2></div><div class="subhead">

<div class="page-actions"><div class="xerox_right"></div></div><cite class="source">
Associated Press
</cite></div>

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- John Calipari is one win
away from clinching a Southeastern Conference championship in his first
season at Kentucky
-- just what he was brought in to do.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;">That's why his answer was
swift and decisive when Calipari was asked Friday what winning the
school's 44th conference title would mean: "Nothing."</p>

The No. 2
Wildcats (27-1, 12-1), college basketball's winningest program, would
assure themselves of at least a share of the championship by beating
Tennessee on Saturday. They would get the championship outright if
Vanderbilt also loses at Arkansas.</p>

"I've always taken the approach
that it's about the seed in the NCAA tournament," Calipari said. "If
you want me to be honest about how I think and what we're doing to
prepare, that's what it is. The SEC tournament is about our seed in the
NCAA tournament."</p>

</p><blockquote class="mod-quote-box quote-box-left mod-inline"><span class="quote-start">“</span>

I've always taken the approach that it's about the seed in the NCAA
tournament. If you want me to be honest about how I think and what we're
doing to prepare, that's what it is. The SEC tournament is about our
seed in the NCAA tournament.
</p><span class="quote-end">”</span><cite>-- Kentucky coach John Calipari</cite>[/quote]

Calipari says he isn't concerned
about players slacking off down the stretch, considering some have
projected that there is virtually nothing Kentucky can do to lose a top
seed in the NCAA tournament.</p>

The games remain as important as
ever, he said, because everything has to do with getting better. The
Wildcats certainly saw plenty of improvement Thursday with an 82-61
victory over South Carolina, avenging their only loss.</p>

Most
improved was the team's veteran forward Patrick
Patterson, who got a season-high 23 points after managing a
season-low five in the previous meeting with the Gamecocks.</p>

"I
know I have to perform well and go out there with a lot of energy and
just play," Patterson said. "I have to come in every game, every night
and play ball. I am the veteran, the older guy out there on the court
with the most experience, and I should be doing that."</p>

Kentucky
beat Tennessee 73-62 earlier this month. Just as Patterson seemed to
jump-start his season against South Carolina, freshman guard Eric
Bledsoe had one of his best outings against the Vols and has
continued his consistent play since.</p>

Once again, the Wildcats may
be catching the Vols at a time their star big man, Wayne
Chism, isn't 100 percent. In Tennessee's loss to Florida this week,
Chism committed a hard foul and dropped to his knees in pain near the
bench.</p>

Even if he's fully healthy, Kentucky seems to be hitting
its stride with its post play. The Wildcats dominated the rebounding and
inside scoring against the Gamecocks, and freshman center DeMarcus
Cousins got yet another double-double to extend his UK freshman
record to 17.</p>

Tennessee has struggled lately, losing three of its
last five games and dropping to fourth in the SEC East behind Kentucky,
Vanderbilt and Florida.</p>

Still, Calipari knows never to look past
Vols coach Bruce Pearl, whom he's faced numerous times over the years
while leading Memphis.</p>

"He may try to come out with some funky
defense and we'll deal with it," Calipari said. "This won't be for the
faint of heart. There are no boys in this game."</p>
 
C

Coach34

Redshirt
Jul 20, 2012
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"I've always taken the approach that it's about the seed in the NCAA tournament," Calipari said. "If you want me to be honest about how I think and what we're doing to prepare, that's what it is. The SEC tournament is about our seed in the NCAA tournament."


It really amazes me how anybody can argue with me at this point.....
 
J

jamdawg96

Redshirt
Feb 27, 2008
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I watched his Kentucky team not care about the SEC Championship in 2003 and walk out of the Superdome without cutting down the nets, because they "were going to be back for the Final Four." They were a lock for the number one seed, you see. And that was all that mattered. Then they lost to Dwayne Wade and Marquette before they could even make it back to New Orleans.<div>
</div><div>The year after that made even more sense as to why seeding doesn't matter. They won the SEC title again, got the top seed, then lost to UAB in the second round.</div><div>
</div><div>Getting to the dance is all that matters. You gotta play the big boys eventually, regardless of what your seed is.</div><div>
</div><div>Calipari is spewing words that the Kentucky fanbase wants to hear, because to them, winning the SEC is nothing. But we're not Kentucky. Winning the SEC is great for us. Winning the West may not be spectacular, but you're comparing apples to oranges if you're going to base your logic for Mississippi State on something John Calipari said.</div><div>
</div><div>You're such a douche.</div>
 
H

Hanmudog

Redshirt
Apr 30, 2006
5,853
0
0
Coach34 said:
"I've always taken the approach that it's about the seed in the NCAA tournament," Calipari said. "If you want me to be honest about how I think and what we're doing to prepare, that's what it is. The SEC tournament is about our seed in the NCAA tournament."

It really amazes me how anybody can argue with me at this point.....
Click to expand...

UK has won over 40 SEC titles. Of course it does not mean as much to them. That same thinking would not apply to the other 11 SEC schools.
 
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