SEC Commissioner Mike Slive told his conference’s coaches that they need to schedule more difficult opponents in the non-conference portion of their schedules to help the conference fare better in the NCAA Tournament. Only three teams reached the NCAA Tournament this past season, and none reached the Sweet 16. Slive was the selection committee’s chairman for this past season and received a better understanding of the committee members’ train of thought when evaluating teams. Some of the conference’s coaches objected to Slive’s comments despite last season’s weak results, according to the Associated Press.
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said the SEC has endured “the perfect storm” with new coaches in the last few years combined with a lot of youth last season.
The weak nonconference schedule cannot be overlooked.
According to RPI expert Jerry Palm, 55.3 percent of the SEC’s non-conference wins this past season (68-of-123) came against teams with an RPI of 201 or worse. That included a 54-0 record against teams with an RPI of 251 or worse.
“We don’t think anything in basketball is broke,” said Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury, chairman of the SEC basketball coaches. “Our league year in and year out is one of the best in the country. But we know when Kentucky and Florida have to be good (both advanced to the NIT quarterfinals this past season).
