Missouri Basketball's SEC Tournament Push

0:00On March 10, Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates is gearing up his team for the SEC tournament with a focus on discipline and habits. He explained that preparation starts each year with a detailed plan kicked off in June, when the whole staff gathers to map everything out. The goal is to push players mentally, physically, and emotionally, so those winning routines stick no matter the pressure. Earlier this week, Gates highlighted how SEC regular season games build unbreakable team bonds, especially with high stakes for seeding. That loyalty helps as they chase a regular season title, but now the postseason offers a clean slate where everyone starts zero and zero. Gates has won both regular season and conference tournament crowns before, both as a head coach and assistant elsewhere, and Missouri though, they have not grabbed those yet, despite getting close in his first year. Players see this as a chance to shake off slumps and fix small issues from the regular season. The SEC tournament will be grueling from day one, with no team safe just because of their

1:01seed. Every match up demands mental toughness to handle extra scouting and familiarity, and only the healthiest most resolute squads reach the semi's end. Final. Looking ahead, Gates hopes the conference's deep run does not wear teams down before the big NCAA tournament, keeping everyone fresh for that next challenge.