Dennis Gates is gearing up for a big moment, and he knows just the person to call for some sage advice-his longtime mentor, Leonard Hamilton. Earlier on Selection Sunday, Hamilton reached out to wish Gates good luck as Missouri secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament as a 10 seed.
Their first opponent? The Miami Hurricanes, a team Hamilton once led from 1990 to 2000.
Gates appreciates having Hamilton as part of his "brain trust," saying, "He knows what I think and how I feel. I often vent to him, so I just appreciate having a brain trust like that, to be able to vent and sift and give information to but also those that give you confidence and wise words." With Hamilton's rich history in coaching, spanning Oklahoma State, Miami, Florida State, and even the NBA's Wizards, Gates values his mentor's insights, especially with such a meaningful game on the horizon.
For Missouri, this tournament berth is a dream scenario after a tough end to their regular season, finishing 20-11 overall and 10-8 in SEC play. Many experts had them pegged for a play-in game, but the Tigers dodged that bullet and secured a direct path to the Round of 64.
The Selection Committee sweetened the deal by sending them to St. Louis, the closest venue possible for the Tigers.
"During these times, you don't know what to expect. You can't read the media," Gates remarked.
"Ultimately, we find out when we find out-when the rest of the world finds out. And that's the exciting part of March Madness, too."
Gates emphasized the importance of experience, noting that most of his team has been through the tournament grind before, except for a few new faces like seniors Shawn Phillips Jr. and Jevon Porter, and freshmen Nicholas Randall and Aaron Rowe. He plans to rely on his veterans as the stakes rise.
The Tigers are set to face the Hurricanes at 9 p.m. CT on Friday at the Enterprise Center.
Despite recent struggles, Gates is optimistic about the matchup, highlighting the connections and respect between the two programs. "Definitely excited about our opportunity here as we represent the SEC in the NCAA Tournament," Gates said.
"There's similarities, there's familiarity, and there's relationships on both sides."
Facing a well-coached Miami team led by Jai Lucas, Gates knows it will be a challenging game. But with the spirit of March Madness in the air, he's ready for the battle ahead.