Tigers vs Hurricanes: Personal Ties in NCAA Showdown

0:00On March 16th, Missouri Tigers take on the Miami Hurricanes and the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64 this Friday. What makes this match up extra interesting are all the personal ties between the teams, from coaches to players who have crossed paths before. Missouri head coach Dennis Gates has known Miami's Jay Lucas and his family for years. Plus, Tigers Senior Ford Mark Mitchell spent his first two college seasons at Duke right when Lucas was an assistant there. According to the connections, Gates' former associate head coach, Charlton Young, left Missouri last off-season to join Lucas' staff at Miami. Former Missouri forward, Marcus Allen followed him in the transfer portal and is now battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma while playing for the Hurricanes. On the court, Missouri Junior Guard Anthony Robinson, the second, was high school teammates with Miami Senior Guard Trey Donaldson. They won a three-a-state title together in 2022 at Florida State High School and were known for their fierce practice battles.

1:01Both squads run similar styles and have performed neck and neck since January 1st, with Miami at 35th and Missouri at 38th in. Efficiency rankings, expect a gritty clash when these familiar foes finally tip off.