The Tigers fell to Miami late Friday night, ending their NCAA Tournament after just one game. And while it was the third time in four years that head coach Dennis Gates has gotten Missouri into the field, the deep posteseason runs just havent't come yet.
Gates is just 1-13 during the month of March over the last three seasons, and it's clear that Mizzou has yet to rid their problems down the stretch. After the game, Gates was asked how he will remember this season, and he didn't hold back.
"I'm pretty difficult on myself," said Gates. "I'm hard on myself when it comes down to coaching. I don't think any coach could have brought the team to this place based off of where we were, dealing with the injuries that we dealt with. So I pat myself on the back at the same time. But there was still sort of a goal in mind. I want to win a National Championship, and I didn't. So for me that's a failure. It's just that simple."
Dennis Gates won't stop until Missouri is holding up the trophy in April
The Tigers lack of success in March is quite the conundrum, considering the Tigers have had strong seasons leading up to that point. But Friday's loss to Miami was another in a long string of defeats that Gates and company have suffered in the spring. It's disappointing for sure, but Gates might be being a bit too hard on himself.
Obviously to have goals of a National Championship are respectable, and maybe even expected, for the coach of Missouri. So far Gates hasn't gotten past the first weekend of the tournament, but maybe brighter days are ahead.
The Tigers have a top-10 recruiting class coming in, headlines by five-star recruit Jason Crowe Jr. Mizzou will lose key players, including star forward Mark Mitchell, but the team may be primed for an even better season next year if the transfer portal can produce a few solid additions.