Dennis Gates Highlights Mistakes From Loss Against South Carolina
Dennis Gates isn't one to make excuses. The reality of the Missouri Tigers situation is that the time is ticking to turn things around on the 2023-'24 season. Since Thanksgiving of 2023, Gates' team is 3-11. There's been bright spots in just about all 11 of those losses, but they are yet to turn into a complete, 40 minute performance from Missouri.
In the Tigers' most recent loss, a 74-62 contest against South Carolina, Missouri was able to tie it at 46 with 13:49 remaining but would lose control by committing a foul and giving the Gamecocks' two free shots. Later, Noah Carter brought the Tigers within five with seven minutes remaining but on the next possession, Missouri gifted South Carolina another trip to the charity stripe.
"We cannot be able to make those mistakes when we're back in again and not have guys earn what we're giving them," Gates said. "We gave them points on that free throw line with those two situations, those two fouls."
In the structure of most of Missouri's SEC games thus far, the Tigers usually put together an impressive run in the middle minutes in order to climb their way out of a hole they dug for themselves in the first half. Saturday was no different as the Tigers went on a 11-0 run in the opening minutes of the second half to claw back. The Missouri offense found control the game's pace with improved defensive discipline.
"I think our guys just came out, being able to physically get in position and never got out of the rotation that they needed us to be in to make the stop," Gates said.
The Tigers' leaders during the stretch were veterans Sean East and Nick Honor, who combined for seven of the 11 unanswered points. A three-point make from Honor three minutes into the half was only Missouri's second make from outside the arc.
"I thought Sean East, Nick Honor, they managed the game in that situation in an opportunistic way," Gates said. "They took what was given and not trying to force certain things that they may have wanted to take and they just took what South Carolina gave us."
But the Gamecocks were eventually able to respond by improving their defensive play inside the paint and by making three-point shots at crucial times. South Carolina made 10 three-point shots on the day, with four coming in the second half.
"I credit South Carolina their ability to adjust to our run," Gates said. "The crowd was able to get back into it after we sort of stalled them a little bit with our run and like a home court advantage the atmosphere proved proven worthy of the outcome."
Missouri will return to Columbia this week to take on Arkansas (10-10) at Mizzou Arena Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
