5th toughest Kansas basketball game: vs. Missouri Tigers
The Border Showdown has been one of the most fierce rivalry games in all of college athletics since its inception in 1891. The history between the two schools has a century-long hatred for one another.
Dennis Gates has brought Missouri back to relevancy since being hired prior to the 2022 season after leading Cleveland State to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2021. Missouri finished 25-10 (11-7 in the SEC).
The Tigers made the NCAA tournament last season as a No. 7 seed in the south region. Missouri won the Round of 64 matchup with Utah State 76-65 but fell to No. 15-seeded Princeton in the Round of 32.
The game is in Allen Fieldhouse this year, which makes it a lot less challenging for Kansas and a lot more difficult for the Tigers. Missouri did bring in a good crop of transfers in 2023, adding John Tonje, Tamar Bates, Caleb Grill, and Connor Vanover, which is good for the No. 40 rated transfer class according to 247 Sports.