[Old School Hound]

Suppose you have to choose one of these two season-ending scenarios.  Would you rather ...

The season ends in a loss  tommorrow night against the hated Vols of Tennessee

........................................   OR ...........................................


The season ens in a loss in the national championship game to Cal's Arkansas Razorbacks

[jetpilot]

I love these junior high games!
I want to win every game and I don't give a rat's ass about anyone else.

[Old School Hound]

I want to win every game , too. But if it has to end in a loss and my options are a loss tomorrow or a loss to Cal, I'm choosing the loss in the Natty Title game to the Hall of Famer. At least, we could say we went to the FF and it took a legend to beat us. See, not hard at all to answer the question.

[Cactus Jack]

A thought experiment!

I'll say a loss to Cal and Arkansas in the title game.

Make it three in a row over Tennessee and again deny them a Final Four. Would mean we advanced further than Alabama and Duke as well. Playing Arkansas there means they advanced past Auburn and Florida as well. That's basically killing some momentum of three top SEC programs and Tennessee.

Add in three more tournament wins on the all-time total (we've been slacking there for awhile) and another Final Four and Championship game appearance.

Finally, it helps boost Pope's profile. No more "can't win in the tournament" and most coaches have to taste a Final Four or two before they win it all. It probably doesn't hurt his recruiting to lose to Calipari-- I doubt they often go all-in, head-to-head on the same players because their types are so different.

Yes, it would be annoying to have to hear about it from some Arkansas fans and in the national chatter, but that's about it.

[Van Hagar]

As someone who has experienced it as a fan (UK basketball) and at the high school level as a coach and parent (state championship game), there is nothing worse than losing the title game. At the high school level we did follow up the next year with a title, but you still never get over being that close and not sealing the deal, no matter who the opponent is. I’d rather lose tomorrow night.

[jetpilot]

I want to win every game , too. But  if it has to end in a loss and my options are a loss tomorrow or a loss to Cal, I'm choosing the loss in the Natty Title game to the Hall of Famer. At least, we could say we went to the FF and it took a legend to beat us. See, not hard at all to answer the question.

I love you but that's stupid and I answered the question and cut out the BS.

[jetpilot]

As someone who has experienced it as a fan (UK basketball) and at the high school level as a coach and parent (state championship game), there is nothing worse than losing the title game. At the high school level we did follow up the next year with a title, but you still never get over being that close and not sealing the deal, no matter who the opponent is. I’d rather lose tomorrow night.

I'm usually with you but I have NO idea how anyone thinks that. That's 1% away from saying if I don't win it all I'd rather not make the tournament.
I'M IN IT TO WIN IT.
No way I will ever process losing at any point is better than winning more games.