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College Basketball Coach Calls Out Former ESPN Announcer Dan Dakich

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 5:05 PM ET

Missouri men's basketball head coach Dennis Gates responded to Dan Dakich's comments about Tigers player Tamar Bates.

On Wednesday night, Missouri earned a seismic home win over No. 4 Alabama. Bates, who transferred from Indiana before the 2023-24 season, recorded 13 points and four steals in the 110-98 victory.

For some reason, Dakich doubled down on a tweet from a year ago just in time for Bates to prove him wrong again. On Feb. 5, 2024, the former Hoosiers head coach wrote that Missouri has "no chance to win" with Bates. Before the Tigers improved to 20-6 behind key late plays from the guard, Dakich said he "1000% stands by" his attack on Bates.

Gates stood up for his player when a reporter asked about Dakich's remarks after Wednesday's win.

"I don't approve of anyone directly attacking a great leader, a great young man, a dude who has never gotten in trouble, a guy that has done everything I have asked," Gates said. "I don’t know who he's talking about."

Gates said he's proud of Bates for not responding to trolls on social media. He believes the senior has learned from his tenure with the Hoosiers.

"He keeps his focus because he's grown from his experience at Indiana," Gates said. "He never says, 'I wish I never went to Indiana.' Tamar Bates says, 'Thank you to Indiana.' ... So from the Indiana experience, we're able to see this version of Tamar Bates, and I am absolutely proud of who he is as a man, what he stands for, his leadership qualities."

Sitting alongside Gates, Mark Mitchell and Caleb Grill also supported their teammate.

"I think sometimes his passion and just how much he really wants it can rub some people the wrong way, but it's always from a place of love," Mitchell said.

"There's not enough things I can say about him and his family, so that's the Tamar I know," Grill said. "One of the best leaders I've been around."

Dakich said his own son, Illinois State assistant coach Andrew Dakich, was "on my a**" about his tweet. He called Gates a "fantastic coach" but stood by his comments.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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