It definitely matters, see one LHC Bill Snyder
Tubby Smith has the #6 team in the country. Rick Pitino is 10-0 in conference and has a team in the MAAC that might snag an at large bid if they get upset in their conference tournament. LHC Bill Snyder went under .500 2 out of his last 4 years, stopped recruiting when it was already bad, had a stream of transfers leaving, and he lost to Iowa State.