Missouri-Kansas Rivalry Ends with a Flourish

It seems fitting that one of the most heated, intense rivalries in all of college sports would come to a frantic and frenetic conclusion.  Such was the case on Saturday, February 25 when the University of Missouri’s men’s basketball team journeyed to Lawrence, Kansas and the fabled Phog Allen Fieldhouse to take on its bitter rival, the Kansas University Jayhawks.

This culture clash has been an annual ritual for 105 years in both basketball and football, and hearkens back to pre-Civil War days when the two “border states” took opposing views about slavery and abolition.  But, with the defection of Mizzou to the Southeastern Conference later this year, it’s all in the rear-view mirror now, apart from a possible match-up in the Big 12 post-season tournament or perhaps a meeting in the NCAA tournament.

Truth is, while the football rivalry essentially was a toss-up in wins and losses through the decades, KU has had the better time of it against the Tigers when it comes to men’s hardwood competition, especially within the comfy confines of its home arena.  While legendary Tigers coach Norm Stewart had more than his share of success against the Jayhawks, other Mizzou coaches have frequently swallowed the bitter pill of defeat when going up against KU.

First-year coach Frank Haith, however, continues to impress fans, fellow coaches and media types around the country with the spirited play he has ingrained into his team.  Often out-sized but never out-hustled, his players play with a gritty determination and singleness of purpose, namely winning the game.  The star power on this Mizzou edition is the unified team effort delivered in virtually every contest.

In the first meeting with KU earlier this month, Mizzou improbably came back against the mighty Jayhawks with a furious final three minutes that cinched a victory on the Tigers’ home court after a long and determined march back from the brink of defeat.  Unfortunately, the Jayhawks turned the table in the return match in Lawrence, as the Tigers coughed up a 19-point lead in the second half before eventually losing by a single point in overtime.  Even more frustrating, Mizzou was unable to get off a final shot in the last few seconds.

Nonetheless, Haith has positioned Mizzou to make at least an appearance in the NCAA tournament in its final season as a Big 12 team.  Kansas coach Bill Self, whose team also is a lock for the ‘March Madness’ extravaganza, pointedly observed last week that the University of Missouri no longer wants to belong to the Big 12.  Therefore, Self sees no reason why KU would want to play Mizzou even in an annual pre-conference game.  He noted that not one, solitary KU fan has contacted him urging a continuation of the rivalry even if several Missouri supporters have done so.

Obviously, no matter how everything is stated in news releases or sanitized official statements, being spurned and scorned is being spurned and scorned, whether it’s a romantic relationship or just the business of college athletics.  Self and the rest of his KU cohorts essentially are telling Mizzou, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Evan Makovsky
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