Is it better to lose?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We're gonna be better than 8 seed if we win the BET.

Possible, but not a guarantee. It would depend on we beat. It would also depend on how other conference tourneys go. Committee historically values wins/losses in conference tourneys less wins/losses in the regular season. It really hard to move up and down seed lines at this point.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Porky believes  it's essential to secure a W to guarantee an invite to the dance.   Not convinced we're a lock yet.

Depends on your definition of lock. If by lock you mean "impossible to be left out" then you are correct, though I don't think one more win against Seton Hall would get us there. By lock I mean "in the tournament barring extraordinary results with an unprecedented amount of bid thieves." Given that two of the most dangerous bid thief conferences, WCC and MVC, made it through with no drama, I'm feeling pretty confident.

[TJ]

Answer to original question: no. Never.

[brandx]

No. Better to win.

+1000.

Unless we get to the championship game. Then we should lose so people don't expect too much next year.

[#UnleashSean]

+1000.

Unless we get to the championship game. Then we should lose so people don't expect too much next year.

next year should bebetter then this year. So im expecting a top 4 big east finish with arun at the title.

[MUMonster03]

Must win first round of BET...
After that, it doesn't matter.  The BET is so late in the schedule that the teams who play in the championship are at a disadvantage in the NCAA tournament.  I'd rather have a 2-3 game run in the NCAA than win the BET.

Playing in a Conference championship game is not a disadvantage. 4 of the last 5 NCAA champs, didn't have time to go back further, played in their conference championship game.

Additionally the Big East game is on par and finishes earlier than many others.
Saturday Champ Games: Big East, ACC, Big 12, PAC 12
Sunday Champ Games: Big Ten, SEC, American, A-10
And there are many other smaller conferences that end Saturday and Sunday as well.

[keefe]

I'll always take a win over a loss, no matter the situation

A victory caked in filth rather than a loss cloaked with dignity??

[MU82]

As a fan, I've never much cared whether we win the conference tournament (unless we've needed to just to make the dance). If we get to the title game and win it, I'll be happy, but it won't disappoint me if we lose in the first round (as long as we make the dance). The only thing that would disappoint me would be if somebody got hurt ... but then again somebody could get hurt in practice.

Having said all that, the team should only aim to win every game in front of them. They keep score, so you might as well get the most points. They keep standings, so you might as well have the most wins.

[warriorfred]

Always win.  I believe 1 win in the BET makes the Warriors a lock. 

Full and fair disclosure - I also have a general belief in the 20 win Rule.

[brewcity77]

+1000.

Unless we get to the championship game. Then we should lose so people don't expect too much next year.

I'll be very curious to see what expectations are like for next year. I think those threads in a month or two will make for some great discussion, regardless of how the next month goes.

[g0lden3agle]

Part of me hopes we lose just so all the people that are saying we need another win to make the tournament can be proven wrong.

[mileskishnish72]

Winning is better than losing, always and everywhere.

[ducs]

Winning makes me feel happy inside so I think it better to win

[tower912]

MU is already in.    Win anyway.   

[CTWarrior]

For the life of me, I do not understand the idea that sometimes it is better to lose.

I graduated in 1983, and since I showed up on campus, we have won two regular season conference titles, one conference tournament and reached one Final Four.  That's 4 individual banner-worthy (if you're not Tom Crean) things in 37 seasons.  I'd like to see us win something important.  Losing early in the BET doesn't guarantee us anything in the NCAA tournament, and it is debatable that it even helps us (maybe cost us a seed line or two).  Win every day.

[Big Papi]

I don't know why some only have tunnel vision for the NCAA tourney.  Winning the Big East Conference Tournament is one hell of an accomplishment and should be the goal every year.

[TheButlerDidIt]

Keep winning and get a 7!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A victory caked in filth rather than a loss cloaked with dignity??

In basketball? Short of actually paying off the refs or going Tonya Harding on the other team's best player, I don't know that there is a basketball situation where I would take a loss over a win.

[MUBigDance]

Of course we want to win... and winning the BET could mean up to 12 top 50 wins....6 seed maybe?

But I understand the hypothetical. If the sweet 16 and a week of nirvana is what we want...not only do we need to win game 1 but also 2. If that second game is against a 1 seed, I only think gonzaga we have a chance (although having beaten Nova, some hope). If  we play a 2 seed (we get 10 or 7), then still so tough....maybe we can beat Oregon. If we get a 6/11 or 5/12 things look even rosier for game number 2.

Let's win the BET and get a 6/7 seed I say.  But I understand the issue.

[slack00]

Maybe some years it would be best to avoid and 8 or 9 seed to avoid the 1 in the second round, but there is no dominant 1 like there is in the women's game that absolutely needs to be avoided.  Some 2's and 3's are going to be just as dangerous as the 1's.

[Clam Crowder]

The only thing we can not do is lose by 20 and look non-competitive. Given our first 2 games against Hall, Sanogo being out, and how MU has been playing I don't think that happens, but the only thing I see putting any doubt in anyone's mind on Sunday is that.

Otherwise WIN is always the objective.

[GoldenDieners32]

Lets just get a W and get our confidence extremely high before the tourney

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I disagree with this analysis.

I agree with your analysis disagreeing with his analysis

[muwarrior69]

Only if you are a 500 pound couch potato.

[Porky's Butthole]

Porkys wrong.

Porky hopes you're right about him being wrong!  Nothing would make Porky Happier!  Porky will lives in metro NYC and will be in attendance Thursday afternoon