Just one year ago, Dennis Gates was one of college basketball’s hottest coaching commodities.
He led Missouri to a 25-10 record in his first season in Boone County, and Truman punched his ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Then came Missouri’s 0-18 death plunge in Southeastern Conference play last season. That dramatic program downturn was, to use Gates’ favorite word, unbelievable.
That’s why media types ranked Missouri 13th in the preseason SEC basketball media poll even though Gates landed one of the industry’s top recruiting classes and highest-ranked transfer portal hauls.
Only LSU, Oklahoma and hapless Vanderbilt ranked lower.