Identify a squad experiencing a series of losses, and you'll likely discover a mentor struggling with insomnia.
Last year, during numerous nights when Missouri’s coach Dennis Gates found himself still wide awake long after midnight, contemplating how his team, the Tigers, were heading towards an unfortunate 0-18 regular season record within conference games—their poorest showing in over a hundred years—he wasn’t calling just anyone for advice. Instead, he reached out to his seasoned mentor, Leonard Hamilton, who has been leading Florida State as head coach.
During his eight-year tenure as an assistant coach with the Seminoles, Gates closely followed everything Hamilton said, attending press conferences and jotting down notes on his laptop when Hamilton shared anecdotes in his office. Among these tales was one recounting Hamilton’s experience coaching Miami in the 1993-94 season, where they faced an unfortunate 0-18 record in Big East games. In 2019, Gates departed from this position.
Last year, after enduring his own winless period during the winter, the 45-year-old Gates “dialed his cellphone at 2 A.M.,” as he recounted to NBC News.
If he doesn't pick that up, I've called his house at 2 A.M., 3 A.M. You could hear him clearing his throat. I asked, 'Coach, were you sleeping?' He replied, 'No, I was waiting for your call.'
Hamilton stated, "Usually, I responded after the very first call."
Partly inspired by the advice Gates received during those discussions, along with having a stronger team lineup and an unstoppable offensive strategy, Missouri has experienced an unprecedented transformation this season. This success will be further solidified on Sunday when Missouri is expected to be announced as one of the 68 teams selected for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket.
A year removed from finishing with an 0-18 record in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference—bringing their total to 0-19 when factoring in their initial conference tournament match—and posting an 8-24 overall tally, the Tigers have made significant strides as they head into the NCAA tournament boasting a 22-11 record. They secured a tie for sixth place within the SEC, achieving a solid 10-8 mark in conference games. This turnaround makes them the first team ever in SEC annals to transition from zero wins during league competition one season to securing over ten such victories the following campaign, based on findings by Missouri University.
The Tigers have beaten three teams ranked in the top five — Alabama, Florida and Kansas — thanks to an offense that has leaped up the national rankings from 215th in scoring offense (72.2 points per game) to eighth (84.5).
Madness, indeed.
This month, Kentucky’s coach, Mark Pope, has been in focus. called The Tigers "are one of the greatest tales in college basketball."
Gates, who led the Tigers to a 25-10 record and a berth in the second round of the NCAA tournament during his initial season at the institution in 2023, "didn't lose his coaching touch over the course of a single year," Hamilton stated to NBC News.
I believe that the transfer portal and its functionality mean you might bring in talented players and great individuals who aren't quite right for your team dynamics. Once you recognize this, neither the players nor your coaching approach is at fault," he explained. "It simply means you must identify those who align with your playing style. And from what I see, that's exactly what he did. He carefully assessed his needs and deficiencies, focusing on aspects crucial to him, which made them more astute.
They certainly became healthier.
Last season, Tigers team members were absent from 111 games due to injuries. This included a significant period where their main asset, John Tonje, was out with a foot injury for the last two months of the season—Tonje, now playing at Wisconsin, ranks among the top scorers in the Big Ten—and crucial bench player Caleb Grill, who only managed to play in nine contests before suffering a wrist injury.
unheard-of," Gates stated. " I'd like to witness any coach at this caliber manage through such an injury crisis.
It was also quite rare for Missouri’s administrators to demonstrate such patience during the economic decline, as "there were many impulsive responses within our sport," according to Hamilton. Despite the departure of the athletic director who originally hired Gates, which left him with a new superior, the coach managed to keep both his position and his entire staff intact.
When asked about the reversal of fortune, Gates dedicated a significant portion of the interview to praising everyone around him, including the school’s president and his assistants along with their particular fields of knowledge.
I didn't doubt our approach," Gates stated. "We have some skilled coaches with a plan that athletic directors and various organizations desire: figuring out how to develop from the ground up... It's simple to begin at third base; it really is. However, what occurs when you're starting way beyond the outfield, not just outside the dugout but entirely outside the stadium?
However, Gates also " merits significant recognition," stated Garth Glissman, an associate commissioner responsible for overseeing the SEC’s basketball activities.
"Many coaches in such a situation would totally overhaul the team, but that's not what he chose to do," Glissman said to NBC News.
He isn’t the type of person to chase away a group of youngsters just because they face minor challenges," he noted. "So, he remained committed to the children involved in this initiative who wished to continue with him. He also brought in several influential transfers to strengthen his lineup. However, make no mistake—this year’s Missouri squad is far from an entirely new team compared to last year’s. Many crucial players have come back, which speaks volumes about Coach Gates’ efforts.
After recovering from his wrist injury, Grill has been contributing an average of 14.2 points per game as a substitute player, with a three-point shot accuracy of 42% and almost 50% efficiency overall. The SEC named him the Sixth Man of the Year, leading Coach Gates to comment, "Grill is one of the biggest improvers in the nation, and there isn’t a better sixth man out there."
ESPN commentator Fran Fraschilla stated to NBC News, "This team has depth. They boast two key players for scoring—Mark Mitchell and Tamar Bates—and also feature a promising sophomore point guard named Anthony Robinson whom I really appreciate. The squad excels offensively and plays at a fast pace while maintaining good ball control. Currently, they form a well-rounded offensive unit."
Mitchell moved over from Duke and quickly took on the role of the Tigers' top scorer, earning a spot as a third-team all-conference member. Bates, a 6-foot-5 guard who previously played alongside Mitchell in high school, has achieved personal bests this season by shooting an impressive 60% within the three-point line and 39% beyond it. Robinson received recognition for his defensive skills when he was selected for the SEC All-Defensive Team.
Since Missouri joined the Southeastern Conference in 2012, they hadn't managed to score over 100 points in any of their initial 226 league matches until recently. This year, however, they've achieved that milestone twice. Unsurprisingly, the team is currently set for their most prolific scoring campaign since the 1989-90 season.
This isn't Gates' first rapid turnaround. When Cleveland State recruited him in 2019, they hadn't appeared in an NCAA tournament for over a decade; however, under his guidance, they qualified in just his second year as coach. The strategy Gates employed at both Cleveland State and this season at Missouri was shaped largely by what he observed working with Hamilton at Florida State. Although the transfer portal enables programs to completely overhaul their rosters within one off-season, ensuring these new additions mesh well remains crucial, according to Hamilton.
After a coaching career lasting 37 seasons and accumulating 660 wins at Florida State, Hamilton has decided to retire this year. He mentioned it was only fitting for him to return the favor by calling others, just like seasoned coaches such as John Thompson, the late NBA champion mentor from Georgetown, and George Raveling, a previous collegiate coach and long-time Nike exec, had done for him when he was starting out by offering guidance and discussing various concepts with them.
We've had frequent discussions over several years," Hamilton stated. "This has helped him understand some aspects of my experiences. However, I believe you collect all available data, assess potential obstacles, and then proceed forward. Dennis certainly makes an excellent mentor.
This piece was initially published on Pawonation.com
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