Missouri vs Kansas: 2023-24 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

It’s the annual Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri, with the Tigers looking to get revenge from last year’s blowout defeat.

TV Schedule: Saturday, December 9, 5:15 ET (ESPN)
Location: Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas

Rivalry week is back for the Missouri Tigers. This time it’s on the hardwood as Mizzou heads west to Lawrence to take on an old Big 12 foe in the Kansas Jayhawks. The first game of this rivalry was played over 100 years ago on March 11, 1907, and the Tigers’ all-time record in the series is 94-174. The rivalry was paused in 2012 when Missouri left for the SEC but was picked back up in 2021. Mizzou hasn’t had much luck since the rivalry was renewed, losing the two match-ups by an average of 32.5 points.

Missouri (7-2) enters the matchup on a four-game win streak, most recently taking down Wichita State 82-72 this past Sunday. The Tigers used a solid defensive outing, blocking six shots and recording 13 steals, to make up for below-average shooting and being out rebounded 48-32. Mizzou also made 23 free throws to keep them ahead.

Over the past few games, it appears that Head Coach Dennis Gates has finally landed on his starting five. With the addition of Aidan Shaw and Tamar Bates as starters, Missouri has had two of their best defensive performances against, arguably, the two best opponents to date. Holding both Wichita State and Pitt to well below their season average. Shaw continues to lead the team in blocks, 2.2 per game, and Noah Carter currently leads the team in rebounds, 6.2 per game.

Missouri’s offense has been pretty good this season, averaging just over 75 points per game. Sean East II (16.8 ppg) has been Mizzou’s best offensive player in almost every game this season, scoring 20 or more points five times. While the Tigers have shown flashes this year, they still make a few too many mistakes that good teams will be able to take advantage of. It’s important that Mizzou limits turnovers and rebounds well, as Kansas will easily be the most talented team they face this season. The pieces are there and the Tigers are slowly putting them together. A strong offensive outing in this game would be a huge confidence boost for Missouri.

Kansas (8-1) has been impressive this season, entering the game ranked No. 2 in the latest AP Poll. The Jayhawks‘ only loss this year was against a very good Marquette team, dropping that game by 14 points. The biggest win for Kansas this year was their four-point win over defending champs UConn this past Friday.

The Jayhawks, who are averaging nearly 81 points this season, have three players that can take over a game at any time. Hunter Dickinson is the team’s biggest threat, averaging a double-double this season with 20.1 points and 12.2 rebounds. Kevin McCullar is averaging 19.2 points and KJ Adams is adding 12.4 points per game of his own. Kansas currently leads the nation in field goal percentage, 53.6 percent per game, and also leads the nation in assists, 22.8 per game.

Defensively, Kansas is one of the better shot-blocking teams in the country with just under five blocks per game. The Jayhawks also rebound the ball well, with 38.7 rebounds per game. Dickinson is second in the nation with 12.2 rebounds per game. Kansas is also only allowing their opponents to make 36.7 percent of their shots this season, it’s easy to see why they have been so dominant. Kansas does lack some depth, but so far this season the Jayhawks big three have more than made up for it. If Missouri can keep up the pressure and push the pace then that might be something the Tigers can take advantage of.

As much as it pains me to write this, I don’t think Missouri has much of a chance to win this one. They just aren’t on the same level as the top-tier teams in college basketball. Kansas is one of the best teams in the country and will take advantage of every Mizzou miscue. Hopefully, Missouri can keep this one close and avoid a blowout. But that might prove to be difficult in a hostile environment where very few visiting teams walk away with a win.