NASHVILLE — Rick Barnes knows the selection committee isn't going to listen to his pleads, so he didn't waste his time after Tennessee beat Auburn 70-65 in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

When asked if he had a message for the committee, he opted to touch on the strength of the SEC, instead.

This meant he even gave a nod to Florida, who is also in the running for the final 1-seed with Tennessee.

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"I don't think they're listening, you know? I think they're sequestered somewhere," Barnes said after beating Auburn. "I think we let our body of work speak for it. Again, I look at our league. I'll say it. I'll be disappointed if we don't have 14 teams in the NCAA tournament. I think it's obvious that Auburn and Florida have played themselves into a 1 seed, which they should. I don't know. Again, I don't think they listen. I do trust them. I think where we are in today's game, they're going to do the best job they can to get it right for everybody and be fair. But again, I don't think they listen, so they're going to do what they think they need to do."

While Barnes didn't care to comment on where his team will be seeded in March Madness, he did sneak in a sort of request to the comittee after the Vols beat Texas in the quarterfinals on Friday.

When asked about balancing rest and competitiveness in the SEC Tournament with the NCAA Tournament looming, he said the plan is always to go as hard as possible in Nashville.

However, he just doesn't want an early Thursday game if his team goes the distance in the conference tournament.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Everything Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes said after beating Auburn

"The only thing I can tell you, you don't want to win the tournament, play early on Thursday," Barnes said after the win over Texas. "That's the only thing you don't want to do. Otherwise, there's not a player, coach that when they toss it up that doesn't want to win every game they play."

Well, that's the situation Barnes' squad is in now. The Vols are going all the way to Sunday and will have less than a week to get ready for the NCAA Tournament, no matter the date they pull.

The options now begin on Thursday and go until the night slate on Friday. Everything will be settled and schedules will be set after the SEC Tournament title game on Sunday when the full bracket is revealed.

Barnes is still making sure his team is recovered and ready to play for whatever comes Tennessee's way, though. This was due to intentional rest before the trip to the mid-state.

"We really took some days off ourself because we have guys like everybody this time of year with some things they need to try to get healed up," Barnes said after the win over Texas. "You come here with the idea that you really do want to win the tournament, regardless of what pundits say about it."

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