In the late-1980s and early-1990s, Big 8 schools employed as basketball coaches Norm Stewart, Billy Tubbs, Johnny Orr, Danny Nee, Eddie Sutton, and did I mention Norm Stewart and Billy Tubbs?

There were lots of bitter matchups between cranky old rascals, and I didn’t even mention coaches like Larry Brown and Roy Williams. When people say they miss the old Big 8 — and quite a few do — that’s why. There were guaranteed “Oh hell yeah, that’s going to be a war” nights to look forward to on the schedule.

Safe to say, that’s not how the SEC works at the moment ... at least, not on the men’s side. The most Big 8 Hoops battle of Mizzou’s calendar year at this point might be when Missouri and South Carolina take each other on in women’s hoops.

Last year’s battle at Mizzou Arena was spectacular, and the teams’ January 7 rematch, also a Mizzou win, was even more intense and bitter.

Last night in South Carolina might have been the most intense yet.

South Carolina won this round; the Gamecocks outscored the Tigers, 15-5, over the final 4:30 to turn a tie game into a 64-54 win. The brawl was the main story, though.

The fracas started when Kayla Michael and Alexis Jennings wrestled over a loose ball near the top of the key. Referees signaled for a jump ball, but Jennings gave Michael a shove as she got off the floor and multiple Gamecocks rushed over.

Amber Smith and Sophie Cunningham pushed into the crowd. South Carolina’s Doniyah Cliney responded with a two-handed shove on Cunningham, who walked to the sideline to let off steam as Robin Pingeton crossed the floor to shield her star player. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley then entered the fray near midcourt, demanding an explanation from officials.

Officials took their time reviewing the play and eventually ejected Jordan Rountree and Nadia Green for leaving the bench.

Mizzou-South Carolina is appointment viewing now.

More Links:

• #TIGERSTYLE. No. 3 Mizzou Wrestling went to Stillwater and took down No. 5 Oklahoma State on Saturday night.

No. 3 Mizzou Wrestling (16-0, 6-0 MAC) overcame a 9-0 deficit after two bouts to comeback and defeat No. 5 Oklahoma State (8-2, 4-0 Big 12), 21-19, Saturday night at Gallagher Iba Arena. The win was the first win for the Tigers over the Cowboys since 2015, and the first on the road since 2009 when Mizzou upended the Pokes, 28-6.

Mizzou improves to 16-0 on the season, only the second time in program history Mizzou has started a season with 16 consecutive victories, matching the 2014-15 Tigers who finished the season 24-0.

This ended up basically being the deciding moment:

• Karissa Schweizer ran a 4:27.54 mile in New York this week. No biggie, just the fourth-fastest time in NCAA history. That’s a staggering accomplishment, even by the standards of her other staggering accomplishments.

• One of Mizzou’s 2018 point guard targets will be deciding within a month.

• EDITS FIGHT

• Mizzou Tennis hasn’t exactly taken on a murderous slate, but the Tigers are undefeated all the same. They took down Cornell on the road this weekend, then stuck around in Ithaca to sweep Army and Binghamton, too.
• No shame in losing at No. 7 Alabama, but Mizzou Gymnastics indeed lost at No. 7 Alabama this weekend.

• RIP, Mort Walker. #MizzouMade