'It's Big Time': How Missouri Tigers Transfer Tamar Bates Made His Presence Known in Season Opener
Monday was a special night for Missouri Tigers transfer guard Tamar Bates.
With a large family present in the stands for his debut, Bates set the tone early for the level of play he can bring to Missouri, scoring 18 points off the bench on 7-for-9 shooting, including the highlight-topping slam dunk of the night.
The Tigers wanted to start the season off strong against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and did just that, dropping 101 points on the night. It was a first look at a team full of new additions to the program and how they would fit into Missouri head coach Dennis Gates' system.
Bates seemed like he had been in the program for years, leading the Tigers in minutes on the bench unit. Having his family in attendance was important in helping the guard feel comfortable, which clearly had a positive effect on his performance.
"The biggest part for me was being able to look up in the stands and see a good amount of my family," Bates said following the game. "The coaches knew that me being back home was really important, and knowing that all year I have the support from my family along with the coaches, it's big time."
The breakout sequence for Bates came within the last two minutes of the first half.
2:35: Bates converts an and-one opportunity, three points.
2:12: Bates grabs an offensive rebound and quickly tips it-in, two points.
1:32: Bates drills a 3-pointer off a screen, three points.
1:05: Bates drive to the rim and gets a layup to go, two points.
It only took one minute and 20 seconds for the Kansas City native to score 10 points for the Tigers, completely taking over the game before the Tigers took a 17-point lead into halftime. Bates became the spark plug for the Missouri bench, which he said Gates "emphasizes" to his unit.
"I just took advantage of my matchups and my teammates got me the ball when I was open," Bates said of his first-half hot streak. "I just let the game come to me, and that's what me and coach Gates have been talking about for the past week leading up to this game."
"Letting the game come to him" was a point of emphasis that Bates made after the win, meaning the junior doesn't try to force any shots and stays patient on the court.
There was a play that graduate guard Sean East II got on to Bates about taking an open shot, but while he could have attacked and gone for the bucket, Bates saw an open Noah Carter and hit him.
Gates also shared an interesting perspective on Bates' performance.
"He started to play how he played in high school with his instincts," Gates said. "When he's played with his instincts and he's not thinking, he's at his best, and I didn't see him think. I didn't see him pause. I didn't see him do anything but instinctively read the game and play aggressive."
It was a tremendous season debut for Bates that garnered the attention of Missouri fans already, showcasing the potential he has to be a key contributor on a Tigers team that wants to compete for a national championship.
Bates wasn't given much of an opportunity in Indiana during his first two seasons, underutilizing his skilled offensive talent. Gates and his coaching staff could help unlock the high potential the junior possesses, especially in a system that plays to his strengths.
The Missouri fanbase is ready to see what Bates can bring to the program, and so will his Kansas City family, whom he is closer than ever to in his collegiate career.
