Missouri basketball's head coach, Dennis Gates, knows the challenge of so-called neutral-site games all too well. In a recent showdown at Kansas City's T-Mobile Center, the Tigers faced off against Kansas in the Border War, a matchup that felt more like a road game.
With Kansas fans dominating the stands, the atmosphere was reminiscent of Allen Fieldhouse-East. Gates remarked, “It was probably 90% Kansas, 10% us,” highlighting the uphill battle Missouri faced amidst the sea of Jayhawk supporters.
This wasn't the first time Missouri found itself in such a scenario. Just recently, during the SEC Tournament's second round at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, Big Blue Nation made its presence known as Kentucky edged out Missouri 78-72, turning the venue into a de facto home game for the Wildcats.
Gates acknowledged, “Kentucky travels well. Big Blue Nation travels well.”
But now, it’s Missouri’s turn to enjoy a bit of home-court advantage. As a 10-seed, the Tigers are set to play 7-seed Miami in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64 at St.
Louis' Enterprise Center. This setup is a rare opportunity for a 10-seed to play in its home state, offering a potential edge in the high-stakes environment of March Madness.
To put this in perspective, the last time a 10-seed played in its home state was back in 2008, when both South Alabama and Davidson had similar fortune. Davidson, led by none other than Steph Curry, made an impressive run to the Elite Eight.
Meanwhile, South Alabama fell in the first round. The last high-major 10-seed to enjoy such proximity was Florida in 1995.
So, is Missouri among the winners of Selection Sunday? The other 10-seeds this year face daunting travel: Santa Clara heads 2,000 miles to St. Louis, UCF travels 1,000 miles to Philadelphia, and Texas A&M journeys 374 miles to Oklahoma City.
Gates sees St. Louis as a big winner, too.
“St. Louis has definitely won out with the level of teams,” he noted, emphasizing the excitement of hosting such a high-caliber event.
With teams like Purdue, Iowa State, and Kentucky also in the mix, it’s a basketball fan’s dream.
Despite the favorable location, Gates kept the focus on preparation, avoiding too much emphasis on the home-state advantage. His call to the city was more about financial support for the team through NIL deals, rather than simply filling seats.
“We need your help. We need your support,” he emphasized, pointing to the importance of keeping the roster strong.
Reflecting on Mizzou’s journey, Gates expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament, marking the Tigers’ third trip in four years under his leadership. “It's such a gift to have your name called,” he said, capturing the essence of March Madness. For Gates and the Tigers, it’s all about seizing the moment and building on the hard work that began back in June.