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Former SEC coach insists Mississippi State should be in NCAAT field regardless of SEC Tournament results
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Former Indiana and Georgia head coach Tom Crean said on ESPN Monday that Mississippi State should be a lock to make the NCAA Tournament, even if the Bulldogs lose their first game of the SEC Tournament.
Tom Crean says on ESPN that Mississippi State “shouldn’t even have to win a game” in the SEC tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.
— Stefan Krajisnik (@skrajisnik3) March 7, 2023
And while it’s true that according to Joe Lunardi’s latest projections Mississippi State would be the last team in the field, it’s not as simple as that. The Bulldogs absolutely need at least 1 win in the SEC tournament due to bid stealers, teams who are only making the tournament because they won their conference championship. There’s always a few each year, such as Oregon State a few years ago and Virginia Tech last year.
And that’s assuming teams like Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Arizona State struggle down the stretch. A loss to Florida, which is currently not projected to be in the field, would not look good on their resume.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
