Dennis Gates suggests earlier finish to SEC Tournament, break before NCAA Tournament
By Andrew Olson
Published:
SEC basketball fans are well aware of the intense physicality in league play. One coach says it affects teams heading to the NCAA Tournament, and suggested an additional rest day after the SEC Tournament.
Mizzou coach Dennis Gates made the suggestion on Monday when answering a question about physicality and feeling beat up entering March Madness.
“Well, first of all, I wish every team health, good health moving forward, because this is the time frame where something can or impact your final stretch. We have a great number of teams that’s possibly fighting for NCAA Tournament bids,” Gates said.
“And while we’re steadily beating each other up, especially when it comes down to the SEC Tournament, I wish we didn’t play on the last day that we had,” he added. “I wish it would move up somehow, because we do need a break and our teams need a break, and I think that can help our teams move forward a little bit better.”
We talked a lot about the physicality of the SEC, today, in our meeting #Mizzou HC Dennis Gates. I asked him how much every team in this league beating up on each other all season long impacts things going into March.
— Nathalie Jones (@NathalieABC17) February 23, 2026
"When it comes down to the SEC Tournament, you know, I wish… pic.twitter.com/Lm0OoCybm5
Mizzou on the bubble
Gates comments on postseason basketball come with Mizzou’s Big Dance outlook uncertain. On Monday, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi placed the Tigers as one of the last 4 teams in the field of 64. That would mean MU would have to play a First Four game if the committee sees Mizzou the same way.
With 4 regular-season games to go, the Tigers are 18-6 overall and 8-9 in SEC play. Mizzou will have 2 big chances to boost its resume against No. 22 Tennessee on Tuesday night and No. 20 Arkansas on March 7. But it might come down to how well MU fares in the SEC Tournament, which is set to begin on March 11 and wrap up on March 15, Selection Sunday.
Will the Tigers make the tourney? Prediction market Kalshi is taking action, offering fans the opportunity to wager by predicting MU’s March Madness fate:
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
