Missouri’s 86-85 win over Texas A&M on Wednesday didn’t just shake up the SEC standings - it sent a message. The Tigers aren’t backing down, and more importantly, they’re starting to believe in what they’re building.
"We knew our ceiling. We know the type of team we are," junior forward Trent Pierce said after the game.
“Just being able to go out there and do that and show that we’re capable of that - it’s been great to see. I’m proud of the boys for that.”
Pierce’s pride is well earned. Missouri has now strung together three straight wins, its longest streak since opening the season 9-0.
And while the Tigers have had their share of stumbles - dropping four of six following a big road win at Kentucky back in early January - this current stretch feels different. It’s not just about momentum.
It’s about maturity.
Head coach Dennis Gates has been the steady hand guiding them through it all. His leadership style? Calm, accountable, and deeply player-focused.
“I’m not a negative coach,” Gates said. “I stand on the railroad and take full responsibility - for any mistake, any loss, anything.
I don’t put my guys under the bus. I love on them, I care about them, and they know what’s in my heart.”
That trust, that culture of accountability without fear, is starting to show up on the court. Gates emphasizes growth, not perfection. He’s built an environment where players are encouraged to take risks, knowing that a missed shot or a blown assignment isn’t the end of the world - it’s part of the process.
“When we win, it’s because of them and the staff,” Gates added. “When we lose, it’s because of me. And that, in itself, allows players to see who you are.”
Graduate senior guard Jayden Stone echoed that sentiment, pointing to the team’s ability to respond after setbacks - especially after a humbling loss to Illinois, their worst of the season. That game could’ve derailed them. Instead, it became a turning point.
Stone said the Tigers took that loss and learned from it. They didn’t fold.
They recalibrated. And now, with a chance to secure a top-four seed and a double-bye in the SEC Tournament if the season ended today, the payoff is starting to show.
Gates isn’t letting the team get ahead of itself, though. He’s still preaching the importance of the little things - the swing moments that can decide a close game.
“There’s going to be possession-by-possession games - get used to it,” Gates said. “You never know what can defeat you.
It could be something that happens in the first five minutes, how you close the first half, how you open the second half. You’ve got to be able to capitalize on those moments and keep getting better.”
That growth mindset extends beyond the court. Gates made a point to credit the behind-the-scenes work of strength and conditioning coach Sean Conaty and athletic trainer Chris Parin - two key figures in keeping the team healthy and ready to compete down the stretch. Their efforts have helped the Tigers stay sharp through the grind of the SEC schedule.
Now, the road ahead only gets tougher. Every game Missouri plays from here on out carries weight, especially with NCAA Tournament implications looming large.
The next test? A Saturday night showdown at home against Texas, set for 7:30 p.m.
CT on ESPN2. It’s a chance for the Tigers to keep building their case - and their confidence.
For Pierce, it’s simple. The noise outside?
He hears it. But it’s not a distraction - it’s motivation.
“I love just playing ball,” he said. “I’ve seen things, heard things.
I heard, what, we’re the last team in? Yeah, I heard that.
But if anything, that just gives us more to fight for. We know that we’re a tournament team, that we can make a run.
So it’s just going out there and proving that.”
Missouri isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. The Tigers are starting to roar - and they’re not done yet.