Mizzou basketball kicks off preseason festivities with pro day
With the first game of the Mizzou basketball season less than a month away, Tiger coach Dennis Gates is confident in his team’s ability to continue its success from last year.
“Our guys have worked hard, tremendously,” Gates said. “From this point on, we got here June 1st … Right now we’re in the phase of fighting, focus, trying to galvanize everything that we’re doing, making sure we’re getting on the same page.”
Gates organized the first opportunity to show off his team to the media at a pro day Saturday. It was the first time the Tigers have held the event since Gates took over in 2022.
“Pro day is important to the program because during the recruiting process, we sit here, I sit here and talk about development,” Gates said. “So, these guys have a file that the NBA keeps, and that file represents their growth. Whether they’ve been with me or another coach, they’re now part of my program forever and I want to make sure I build on to their files. Making sure they have an opportunity to not only get a job, but keep a job. And if that comes down to personality, characteristics, character as well as skill development. But also the disposition that they play with.”
Gates said the biggest reason the team was able to put on the event for the first time this year was new Tiger General Manager Tim Fuller. He credited Fuller with allowing him time to focus on the team as a whole. While still allowing for better opportunities for players.
“When you have a staff to be able to concentrate on small tasks like this, they can put more time into it,” Gates said. “Whereas I can now just concentrate, hands on, on the thing. So I credit our staff, especially our GM, Tim Fuller, for today’s output and obviously today’s work.”
Who was there?
Along with media, scouts from the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards got the chance to view the Tigers.
That opportunity had some extra significance for New Orleans scout Jarrett Sutton, a former Tiger who was on the team from 2008-2012.
Sutton said he was impressed with the group overall, and the Tigers are excited about the upcoming season.
“They are more athletic,” Sutton said. “They have a lot of size and the transfers they got will help them right away. (The Tigers) are excited about this group.”
Upcoming events
The event marked the first in a series of upcoming Tiger basketball events.
Friday will be the opening tipoff event at Mizzou Arena. The open practice with both the men’s and women’s teams will be open to the public starting at 6 p.m.
The Tigers’ local media day will be Monday, Oct. 13, when local media will get the chance to talk to players. Then SEC Media day will be Oct. 15, in Alabama.
That all leads up to the unofficial start to the season when the Tigers host Kansas State in an exhibition game on Oct. 24. The official tipoff to the season will be a road game at Howard on Nov. 3.