With Missouri Tigers surging, Mizzou coach Dennis Gates makes Naismith watch list
Missouri Tigers men’s basketball coach Dennis Gates has made his second appearance on the annual Naismith Award watch list.
Gates is on the 15-coach watch list for the nationwide award bestowed annually to the top coach in Division I college basketball. The list of 15 was released Friday.
Mizzou, winless in Southeastern Conference play during the 2023-24 season, recorded its 20th win of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday — an upset of No. 4 Alabama at Mizzou Arena.
In his third season at Missouri, Gates has coached the Tigers to three victories over opponents ranked in the top five this season — one of just two programs in the country that can make that claim.
Along with beating Bama, MU this season has taken down then top-five-ranked Kansas and Florida.
Missouri (20-6, 9-4 SEC) visits Arkansas on Saturday for another league game.
After going winless in SEC play a year ago, the Tigers were picked to finish 13th in the conference in the 2024-25 preseason poll. Now they’re tied for fourth in the league, just three games out of first place.
Saturday’s Tigers-Razorbacks game at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Gates is one of three SEC coaches on the 2025 Naismith Watch List. Here’s the full list of 15, with name, school and conference:
- Greg Gard, Wisconsin, Big Ten
- Dennis Gates, Missouri, SEC
- Todd Golden, Florida, SEC
- Penny Hardaway, Memphis, AAC
- Tom Izzo, Michigan State, Big Ten
- Pat Kelsey, Louisville, ACC
- Dusty May, Michigan, Big Ten
- Grant McCasland, Texas Tech, Big 12
- Ben McCollum, Drake, MVC
- Matt Painter, Purdue, Big Ten
- Bruce Pearl, Auburn, SEC
- Rick Pitino, St. John’s, Big East
- Richard Pitino, New Mexico, MWC
- Kelvin Sampson, Houston, Big 12
- Jon Scheyer, Duke, ACC