The Latest Breaking News from Dennis Gates

When Dennis Gates was named the University of Missouri men’s basketball program’s new head coach last year, he had a daunting task before him:

From Kansas vs. Kentucky to Tennessee vs. Texas, this mid-January series features meaningful nonconference games and nine of the 25 ranked teams, including three of the top five.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — With their best player scratched shortly before tip-off, the Missouri Tigers hung with No. 4 Alabama for about a half but couldn’t match the Crimson Tide’s firepower with leading scorer Kobe Brown on the bench.

The stakes are high for these conference battles.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri basketball team extinguished a couple streaks Wednesday night in dramatic fashion.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — You could tell something was up 20 minutes before the first 20 minutes.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Missouri basketball program had never beaten three straight nationally ranked opponents before coming to Arkansas this week — and still hasn’t. The No. 20 Tigers’ quest to vanquish three consecutive ranked foes collapsed Wednesday under a smothering red wave at Bud Walton Arena, where No. 13…

When Kentucky travels to Missouri for its SEC basketball opener on Wednesday night, the Cats won’t be facing the same old Tigers. Not by a long shot.

ST. LOUIS — Dennis Gates left his first Braggin Rights’ Game with some hardware — thanks to Missouri’s Braggin’ Rights veteran.

Let’s take a quick look at this week’s Associated Press rankings. Yes, just as you’d expect it. Six teams from the mighty SEC among the top 25. Three in the top 10. Four in the top 15.

Chicago native Najeeb Echols, 39, died on Wednesday in Kansas after suffering a heart attack.