‘It’s just not a normal game’: Mizzou prepares for rivalry showdown against No. 1 Kansas
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
When the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks roll into Columbia on Sunday afternoon, Mizzou hoops will not be playing in a normal basketball game. They'll be playing for bragging rights, for the hatred of two fan bases and to honor a whole lot of history.
To put it simply: the Border Showdown just brings something different to the hardwood.
"I truly believe is one of the best basketball rivalries, out there. It may not get the same respect, but it is, we know what it means to the fan base we know what it means to the current students," head coach Dennis Gates said. "It's just not a normal game. It's not. We're not going to treat it that way and they're not going to treat it that way. They won't ever do that. So for us, I just think when you look at the history, you got to respect the history and it's something that we all signed up for."
You can watch the full press conference with Gates in the video player below.
MU and KU have been meeting in these grudge fests since the 1800s and the hate has not lessened over the years. Since 1907, when Mizzou Athletics started keeping track of the history of this rivalry, Kansas holds the all-time advantage 175-95, including in the renewed edition of this showdown.
Since these games were brought back in 2021, the Tigers have not beaten the Jayhawks, sitting at 0-3.
However, Coach Gates will look to carry the momentum from a 7-1 start to the season into a home showdown with Kansas. Last time Mizzou faced the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Gates' team played in the best game fans have seen in the renewed edition of the rivalry, falling by just nine points in enemy territory. Now, heading into the 2024-25 edition of this series, MU has assembled a mostly-new roster, which means a lot of these players have not played in a rivalry game quite like this before.
"Obviously, just the energy is different. It's a whole different game. It's a really good team, really good coach, but I think just the amount of fight it's going to take to win this game," forward Mark Mitchell said. "Obviously, Kansas doesn't like Missouri and vice versa, so just coming out fighting is just going to be the most important thing I've heard from the past guys."
You can watch the full press conference with Mitchell, as well as guard Tamar Bates in the video player below.
Bates echoed Coach Gates' sentiment that when you play Kansas, there is almost nothing normal about it.
"The preparation is pretty much the same, but the mindset is just different from a standpoint of like it is a rivalry game. There are a lot more emotions tied into it and it's just like, you know, more of a heightened focus," Bates said. "The intensity is probably the main difference because obviously with other games the preparation is where it should be, but, I mean, it's just different."
Head coach Bill Self and his Kansas team will roll into Mizzou Arena 7-1 overall in 2024-25, with their only loss coming just days ago in upset-fashion at Creighton. Coach Gates did not understate the importance of this game on his team's schedule.
He said the Jayhawks are going to be coming in with an effort to get MU to play outside of their comfort zone.
"Our job is no matter what conditions, no matter what stress it takes to do it, we got to do it," Gates said. "We got to execute. What those guys bring is the ability to play with tenacity, toughness, the ability to read the game the right way, take their opportunities, be physical, they they are talented, they are athletic and we just got to make sure we take care of the basketball and not have a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. If we come out with that stat, it gives us a chance."
The Tigers will have to get it done without standout guard Caleb Grill. After going down with a head and neck injury in the Nov. 27 win over Lindenwood, he will miss his second-straight game. Coach Gates said there is no timetable for his return and he remains day-to-day.
Mizzou and Kansas will tip off at noon in Columbia on Sunday, Dec. 8.
