North Carolina got blasted on the road by rival Duke 87-70 last Saturday, and coach Hubert Davis is feeling the heat. Don’t let the final score fool you, this game was a blowout from the tip off.
It is almost certain that this is coach Mike Woodson’s last season at Indiana if the Hoosiers don’t turn things around, and quickly. Woodson’s team fell to 14-8 with a 5-6 Big Ten record after squandering a lead during the final minute of an 81-76 road loss to No. 10 Purdue.
Miami, which reached the Final Four just three seasons ago, has seen longtime coach Jim Larranaga retire during the season and has tumbled to 5-17 overall and a pathetic 1-10 ACC Conference record.
UCLA’s abrasive coach Mick Cronin called his players “delusional” following a January loss, refusing to accept responsibility for the Bruins’ lackluster play. UCLA sits at 16-6 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten, but Cronin has quickly worn out his welcome.
These teams, and many others, are aware of what is happening with the Missouri Tigers under the guidance of Dennis Gates, a national and SEC coach of the year contender.
The Tigers moved to No. 15 in the AP Top 25 after blasting No. 14 Mississippi State last Saturday 88-61. It is the most lopsided Mizzou win on the road against a ranked team in the team’s history and the victory was No. 100 for Gates including his time with Cleveland State.
“I told everybody that would listen to me,” Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans said in a press conference after the game, “They’re [Missouri] the best team in the country, not just the SEC, that nobody’s talking about.”
The Tigers moved to 17-4 overall and 6-2 in SEC play. The SEC is currently the nation’s toughest contest. Auburn is No. 1, followed by No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 10 Texas A&M, and No. 14 Kentucky.
Mizzou will play Alabama and Kentucky later this year. If the wins continue, the Tigers could reach the Top 10 before the regular season ends.
Take a bow, Coach Gates. Your team was picked to finish 12th in the conference following a dismal 2023-24 season that closed with an 8-24 overall record and 0-18 conference record mark.
The Tigers also boast respective blowout victories over then No. 2 Kansas at home and No. 5 Florida on the road. Missouri is fifth in SEC scoring offense (83.2 PPG) and its pressure defense is in the SEC’s Top 10, allowing just 69 points per game.
Gates offered this frightening thought, too.
“We’ve yet to reach our full potential,” Gates said following the Mississippi State win.
“I’m excited to see the day when we do, but I think we’re trending in the right direction. I’m just thankful these guys are playing hard for us.”
Gates received a contract extension in March 2023 that runs through the 2028-2029 season. He gets a $100,000 annual raise.
My advice to Mizzou is to tear that contract up and raise his salary at least $1 million annually.
There are plenty of teams with plenty of cash and too many losses that have an eye on Gates, trust me.
The Reid Roundup
ESPN senior NBA writer Shams Charania broke news of the blockbuster Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade late Saturday on social media. He then posted “this is for real.” Count me as one whose first thought was “this can’t be for real.”…NBA pundit Charles Barkley said the transition for the Los Angeles Lakers will not be easy. “Luka wants the ball 100% of the time. LeBron wants the ball 100% of the time…Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant said, “This got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport.”…The Suns are rumored to be shopping Durant in the trade market. This includes a possible reunion with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors… According to a report in The Athletic, Suns guard Bradley Beal turned down a prospective trade to Chicago in part because of its cold winter weather. He and his family enjoy Phoenix.