2023-24 Big West MBB Scores Thread I would play to win just like any game we play for a couple of reasons:
1) We've locked up the #2 seed but the game is still meaningful for Long Beach and the other teams who can move up or down in the seeding depending upon the outcome. In all fairness to the teams still trying to move up, we need to play hard as normal. We don't want the reputation of simply being an "opportunist" who slacked off and ended up aiding some teams while hurting others.
2) Long Beach beat us at home and we might see them again in the tournament. So we want to beat them on the road and carry that momentum and confidence into the tournament. We don't want to have any doubt that we can not beat them in the tournament.
3) As the #2 seed, we have plenty of time to rest up and be ready to go so we don't need to take a day off against the Beach to save energy.
4) A win gives us great momentum and confidence that we're playing good basketball as we head into the tournament.