Kansas, Missouri Agree to Six-Game Basketball Series
The Border War is back… at least in men’s basketball.
The rivalry ended in 2012 when Missouri left for the SEC, but it is set to resume in the 2020-21 season with a six-game series. Two games will be played in downtown Kansas City at the Sprint Center, two at Mizzou Arena in Columbia and two at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
In a statement, KU athletic director Jeff Long said, “One of the best aspects of college athletics is rivalries, and we are thrilled that our fans and student-athletes will get to experience this Border Showdown rivalry once-again. We have quietly sought input from fans and supporters on the renewal of this series and we believe the overriding sentiments are that this historic rivalry should resume. While this series does not include each of our sports teams competing in the Border Showdown at this stage, we feel this is the first step to expanding it in the future. We are excited for this rivalry to begin anew next year and believe it will be great for all fans of college basketball.”
Mizzou AD Jim Sterk admitted that he hopes this agreement will lead to the two teams starting to play each other in other sports as well, saying, “Hopefully, this renewal on the hardwood will lead to more opportunities (to play Kansas) down the road in other sports, too. Rivalries make college sports great, and there is no question that when Missouri and Kansas face off in any sport, it’s important to a lot of people.”
While players from both programs will be so far removed from what this rivalry means to the fans, it would be great for the Border War to at least come back to a semblance of what it once was. Up until conference realignment, Kansas-Mizzou was known as the longest continuous rivalry west of the Mississippi River.
The first match up is scheduled for next season on Dec. 12, 2020 at the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City.
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