Taking over a program that won only 12 games the season prior,
Dennis Gates was a revelation for
Missouri in 2022-23. The Tigers
went 25-10 (11-7 in the SEC) as he led the team to the
second round of the
NCAA Tournament . Along the way, he also was
named the SEC Coach of the Year by writers who cover the league for the
USA TODAY Sports Network . It was a different story last season. Mizzou cratered, going
8-24 overall and finishing the regular season 0-18 in conference play. It then went
one and done in the
SEC Tournament . The Tigers ended the 2023-23 campaign on a 19-game skid. But Gates has engineered another turnaround this season. Entering today's regular-season finale against
Kentucky , Missouri is 21-9 — and
10-7 in conference competition in one of the
fiercest leagues in the history of the sport . "I like the way he approaches the game,"
Wildcats coach
Mark Pope said. "I like how aggressive he is. I like the way he carries himself. I like the way he talks about the game and honors the game. I'm a big fan. "I think he's one of the really special coaches in college basketball." And one who deserves credit for a bounce-back season. "Last year wouldn't have been easy for anybody, but the way that he's helped that program, those kids have responded this year," Pope said. "(It) is pretty extraordinary. ... It's one of the great stories, I think, in college basketball." Will the Wildcats (20-10, 9-8) cap the regular season with back-to-back wins? Or will the Tigers send Pope's group to yet another road loss?
Both teams ended the half on a hot streak, as each made their last four field goals. Kentucky finished the opening 20 minutes shooting 44.8% (13 for 29) from the field and 58.3% (7 of 12) from 3. Missouri has made 35.5% (11 of 31) of its shots, but missed 10 of its 13 attempts from long range, a 23.1% converion rate. Koby Brea has 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting (3 for 3 on 3s) to pace Kentucky. Mark Mitchell has 12 points for Mizzou to lead all scorers in the first half.
With 7:41 remaining in the first half, Kentucky leads Missouri, 18-13. The Wildcats are on a 14-2 run in the last 3:567. UK is 6 for 17 (35%) from the field; Missouri is 5 of 19 (26%). Kentucky is 5 for 8 (63%) beyond the 3-point line. Missouri has missed 2 of 9 (22%) from distance.
The contest between the Wildcats and Tigers will air on ESPN. Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Dane Bradshaw (analyst) will have the call. Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN via TV-connected devices or by going to
WatchESPN.com , the WatchESPN app or ESPN+. You also can stream ESPN on Fubo, which offers a
free trial .
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington. You can also listen online via
UKAthletics.com .
Betting odds: Kentucky is a 6 ½-point road underdog (-108) on
DraftKings , which set the over/under at 171 ½ points (-110). The money line odds are Kentucky +225, Missouri -278.
The Tigers are 21-9 overall this season, entering today with a 10-7 record in SEC play.
UK is 15-3 all time versus Missouri , but the teams have split the past four meetings dating back to the 2020-21 campaign.
Click here to see the Tigers' full 2024-25 schedule. Want to learn the Tigers' roster?
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