Why Dennis Gates wouldn't let fans storm the court

Three weeks from tomorrow, we will have a bracket. Is this fun or what?

If you want to win your bracket pool (and, you know, enjoy watching all these great games), then Hoops HQ is here to help. That’s why we have a March Madness sale going on, during which you can buy an annual subscription for 68 percent off. That’s one percent for every team in the field.

(Memo to self: If the tourney expands to 76, do we have to offer a 76 percent off next year? To be discussed at next staff meeting.)

You’ll see all the usual fantastic content on our site today. I had a lengthy conversation with Missouri coach Dennis Gates about his decision to ask Mizzou students not to storm the court as the Tigers were closing out their win over Alabama. This team went 0-18 in the SEC last year and is now a Final Four contender. Jamal Murphy has a look at a famous referee known mostly as “High Knees.” And we’ve got the standard betting content from me and Justin Perri, a look ahead to the weekend in women’s hoops by Eden Laase and plenty of other fun stuff for you to consume.

I would also encourage you to follow us on Instagram. I’m going to be conducting a livestream on IG the Monday following Selection Sunday with a special offer to answer questions from our subscribers. It’s just one more way in which we can all enjoy the Madness — together.

Have a great Saturday, everyone, and thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ. — Seth

For Missouri Coach Dennis Gates, a Viral Moment Tells a Larger Story

By Seth Davis

Missouri coach Dennis Gates trusts his instincts, but he prefers to plan. During his 22 years as an assistant and head coach, Gates has filled two large notebooks with jottings that lay out precisely what decisions he should make should various scenarios arise. So when Gates’ 15th-ranked Tigers led No. 4 Alabama 110-98 Wednesday night in Mizzou Arena with 1.5 seconds to play, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He called time out, went over to the scorer’s table and followed his plan accordingly, telling fans not to storm the court. It was an unconventional way to close out a remarkable win. Yet, it was Gates’ late-game crowd control that garnered the most attention, especially on social media.

Between the Lines

🏀 We’ve got an epic Player of the Year race unfolding as the season winds down and March Madness heats up. There are two runaway favorites, but choosing one over the other is, at this point, nearly impossible.

🏀 In case you missed it, Seth Davis wrote a bold article supporting an expansion of the NCAA Tournament from its current 68 teams. See what the controversy is all about.

No. 6 Tennessee @ No. 7 Texas A&M: Another stacked Saturday slate kicks off with this top 10 game in College Station. These are two elite defensive teams so expect a physical, low-scoring affair. Keep an eye on the matchup between guards Zakai Zeigler and Wade Taylor IV. Zeigler is not usually the offensive weapon that Taylor is, but the Tennessee star did score 22 points in the second half of his team’s comeback win over Vanderbilt last week. If he stays hot, A&M is in trouble. 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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