Yes, the Missouri Tigers were upset by the 11-seed Drake Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament, but there is still something great that fans can take away from this season. This time last year, Missouri had absolutely no hope of making it to the NCAA Tournament as they went 0-18 in conference play and everything looked very bleak.
Then, this season, head coach Dennis Gates led his team to finish sixth in the SEC, the most competitive conference in college basketball history this year. The turnaround Gates led this season was nothing short of historic and that needs to be remembered, even after a tough loss like the one against Drake.
After the loss, fans took to social media to voice their desire for Gates to be fired, and they are going a little overboard and need to trust what Gates is building at Missouri.
Dennis Gates’ ceiling is round of 32. We pay way too much into this program for that to be the ceiling. Hope we aren’t shy to buy him out
— 🐺 (@beastmodecumsok) March 21, 2025
Gates was simply in his third year at Missouri; he was playing with guys that weren't his own guys in year one and had an upset win over a 7-seed. Gates had to rebuild last year and went from 0-18 last season to a 6-seed in the tournament this season, not everything can be fixed right away.
Dennis Gates era includes a loss to a 15 seed, a loss to a D2 coach, and an 0-18 conference season..
— tedmønds (taylor's version) (@good_tweets_ted) March 21, 2025
It also includes an upset win over a 7-seed in his first season and then turning the team around from 0-18 to finish sixth in one the most competitive conferences in college basketball history. Make sure you give the full story, not just half of it.
Fire Dennis Gates. Now
— Nathan Grobe🐳 (@nathanbrobe) March 21, 2025
This is overreacting just a bit, Gates is a young coach and is figuring it out. Drake is a very good team and was coached by a very good coach. Missouri was able to claw its way back, but it was just too big of a hole to climb out of, they have the ability to continue improving next season.
Fire Dennis Gates and give McCollum a blank check, he deserved it the last time we were hiring
— (Q) Shai enthusiast (@colestrangefan) March 21, 2025
McCollum is a great coach, but there is no guarantee he could have been successful at Missouri, sometimes, it is the players you have, and he has some good ones at Drake.
Dennis Gates is on the hot seat. Let him go to FSU if they want him. PLEASE.
— SoMo.to.CoMo (@KWDouces) March 21, 2025
First of all, FSU already hired their next head coach, and second of all, gates should not be on the hot seat. BE patient, let the man continue to build this team just like he did today.
At least the Blues won. I think I might be out on Dennis Gates. He can't coach his way out of a paper bag when it matters
— Gateway City Sports (@SportsTalkSTL) March 21, 2025
He seemed to hold his own pretty well in a very competitive SEC this season. Seems like a guy who could coach his way out of a paper bag.
Dennis Gates should be fired, he’s a horrible basketball coach.
— 94thandinches (@94thandinches) March 21, 2025
If you think it is so easy, then you get out there and do it. What Dennis Gates did this season was special, not many coaches can have as big of a turnaround as Gates did with Missouri this season. Fans need to calm down, take a breath, and be patient. Things are being built in Missouri, and they need to trust the process.