COLUMBIA, Mo. — As always, Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates gave a measured response. Sitting between players Nick Honor and Ronnie DeGray II, he smiled and clapped as Mizzou’s name appeared on the videoboard at Mizzou Arena, but as the Tigers’ first-year coach digested Sunday’s news — No. 7 seed Mizzou will play No. 10 seed Utah State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament — he soon shifted gears for the business trip that lies ahead.
MU’s game was among the first to appear on the screen during CBS’ selection show, but before the rest of the 68-team field had been revealed, Gates’ players and staff had already scattered from Norm Stewart Court.