We've played more games than anybody in the tournament.

[Count Istvan Teleky]

Our total of 63 is the highest in the bracket. Some one who has already been eliminated may have played more, but their record isn't showing.<div>
</div><div>Others have played 60 plus, of course, but our total number of games is the highest. I thought that was interesting.<div>
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[BogeyGolfer.sixpack]

There is no need to have a SEC tourney in baseball. We peaked in the tourney and now are facingeliminationafter getting beat by a local Birmingham school.

 

[drunkernhelldawg]

I think the SEC tournaments in both Baseball and Basketball are a blast. I'd hate to see them go away.

This idea that nothing counts but the NCAA's is ridiculous. Every game is a new game and every season is a new season. The real truth is that last year doesn't matter.

 

[patdog]

We had 4 days of rest. Our starting pitcher in that game had 8 days of rest. We just didn't get the job done in a game we had no excuse losing. Pro baseball players in the minors the same age as our guys play 6 days per week for 5 months with more travel. </p>

 

[engie]

I don't subscribe to the "peak too early" thing. It's simply the law of averages catching up with us...

 

[BogeyGolfer.sixpack]

nothing counts but the NCAA's is correct. If you lose two your season is OVER. The SEC tourney means nothing other than being able to print a a few t-shirts that read "SEC Tourney Champs" and to put a trophy in the case, the true champion is theregularseason champ, same is true in basketball. Teams that win aregional/super-regionalkeep playing baseball. You have to admit that we were not mentally prepared to play Friday and I think it relates directly to all of the games we played in Hoover. However, I think we win today not sure about tonight.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

you are assuming we would have peaked period without a sec tourney.

there is no correlation between our performance last weekend and our opening game loss except for we had to sit for 5 days waiting to play so maybe it cooled us off.

 

[drunkernhelldawg]

Because I'm sure you were cheering for us to win in Hoover just like every other State fan.

Every season ends with a loss, except for the season of the National Champion. Does that mean that only one team's season "counts"?

Some of the most exciting moments in our athletic history have come in SEC tournaments. I would like to win the big prize, of course, but as a fan I do not want to give that up. And maybe it's my upbringing or my age, but conference standings have always been incredibly important to me. The SEC is a tremendous conference, and winning it will always count in my book.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

The SEC Tournament Champion is 100% sure that it's going to the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't often come into play in baseball, but Auburn and Georgia probably needed it. It helped us in basketball in 2009.<div>
</div><div>Other than that, I agree that the SEC Tournament is overrated in importance.</div>

 

[skb124]

In your opinion there is only 1 successful team in the country every year in every sport. Just because you don't win the national championship doesn't mean your season was a waste. Why do you think people hang banners for conference championships? Its because those are accomplishments to be proud of. There are generally only 5-10 teams each year capable of winning the NC each year, so basically everyone else is playing in vain. No, conference titles do mean something. They're accomplishments that are worth recognition.

 

[CEO2044]

As the tourney is now, I just can't agree going very deep in it helps more than it hurts.<div>
</div><div>I think you have to consider your team, too. With our injuries, I just can't see justifying playing that long in it for no benefit. I realize we thought we might get a better draw from it and possibly host- I'm never mad at us for winning or wanting to compete. Never, not ever. Not mad at the coaching staff, either- I think they've done an excellent job with our guys and injuries, and they are the ones there every day seeing them. They will know more than I.</div><div>
</div><div>But when you consider OUR team THIS year, I think we have guys that would have benefitted more by not playing that far, either by getting out earlier or just taking a seat for some games. The fact that we had no byes adds to it. I'm just not comfortable with guys like Norris and Brownlee with chronic injuries playing that many games in a row for something that doesn't really matter- they need to be protected when possible. They've played a long time on their injuries.</div><div>
</div><div>Would we have done better in the first game with it? Nobody can know. It's just my preference with the way everything is set up now. Even with the 5 day break... 5 days isn't always enough for guys like that.</div><div>
</div><div>With that said, I thought we looked tired in the first game- mentally mostly, some (Norris, etc.) physically. Easily could have just been first game jitters, the layoff, etc. I do feel I was correct that Norris and Brownlee are probably worn down right now. Even if they weren't hurting (they are), compensating all season is hard on the body.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

 

[BogeyGolfer.sixpack]

while almost every other team in our conference that made a regional is still playing baseball.

 

[skb124]

What's the difference in losing now, and losing tomorrow, in the supers, in Omaha? The season is going to come to an end for every team except 1. We go in the record books this year for winning the SEC tournament. LSU goes in for winning the SEC regular season. Both of us have something to hang our hats on. No, its not winning the national championship, but you're fooling yourself if you expected us to do that. <div>
</div><div>I would have loved to get to Omaha. It would have been a huge accomplishment for us. But from what you are saying, even if we get there, its an unsuccessful season if we don't win the championship. For seven teams, their "trip to Omaha" season will end. Don't discount what we've done.</div>

 

[CEO2044]

What's the difference in losing now, and losing tomorrow, in the supers, in Omaha? The season is going to come to an end for every team except 1. We go in the record books this year for winning the SEC tournament. LSU goes in for winning the SEC regular season. Both of us have something to hang our hats on. No, its not winning the national championship, but you're fooling yourself if you expected us to do that. <div>
</div><div>I would have loved to get to Omaha. It would have been a huge accomplishment for us. But from what you are saying, even if we get there, its an unsuccessful season if we don't win the championship. For seven teams, their "trip to Omaha" season will end. Don't discount what we've done.</div>

I am VERY proud of our team. And I agree. If you lose, you lose. The only real winner is the one who wins the natty.<div>
</div><div>Still would have liked to have seen this team get further, just to see what it could do. I don't feel with OUR team we put ourselves in the BEST position for that; I think today showed you really needed a guy like Norris in there. NO, it was not the only reason we lost. MANY others.</div><div>
</div><div>Baseball is streaky, and you can't really predict if the rest would have hurt or helped. As a hitting team, I don't think it would have mattered.. either way, we don't hit well. Pitching, I don't think it would have mattered- we were deep, and just have quality arms. I don't think Holder was hurt by resting... I just think he was probably due. It happens. He probably should have gotten a routine 3rd out to get out anyway. The only things I think that really would have been affected were the injuries. BUT, we could have countered that with just doing the lineup like we did today in the tourney and seeing where it took us...</div><div>
</div><div>I'm still not in the fan club of going for broke in the tourney with our team this year. I don't think you're necessarily right or wrong to disagree. Just my opinion- which means nothing. Either way, still proud.

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