Mizzou Basketball renews rivalry with Kansas with six game series starting next season

Well, not just your usual quiet Monday night!

In a sneak attack Missouri Athletics announced the MU-KU border war rivalry is officially BACK ON (starting next season).

Here’s the announcement:

I honestly got the email from the Athletics Department before I saw the tweets and did a double take. I started reading the email and my stomach lurched a bit. I got... nervous. This isn’t real, right?

But it is. It really is. Here’s the relevant portion of the announcement:

The two teams will play six games, with one matchup in each of the next six seasons from 2020-21 through 2025-26. Among the six showdowns will be two meetings at the Sprint Center that bookend four on-campus games, including two meetings at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, and two at Mizzou Arena. The series’ final contracted matchup in 2025 is set for Dec. 13, 2025, at the Sprint Center. All remaining dates will be decided at a later time.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for both programs to bring back one of college basketball’s best rivalries,” head coach Cuonzo Martin said. “I’m excited for our guys, our University and our fans, and we look forward to the battles ahead.”

Future MU-KU Years & Locations:

2020-21: Dec. 12, 2020 – Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.

2021-22: TBD – Lawrence, Kansas

2022-23: TBD – Columbia, Missouri

2023-24: TBD – Lawrence, Kansas

2024-25: TBD – Columbia, Missouri

2025-26: Dec. 13, 2025 – Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.

It was bound to return at some point, I just expected it to be after Bill Self left. And he’s still technically the coach at Kansas, despite some pending NCAA troubles. But regardless, it’s huge news that Missouri and Kansas are going to play again. And I like the setup. Two homes games, two road games, two neutral site games. It’s a good fit for both schools to get the games on campus, and a great set up for Kansas City to get a couple of those games as well.

I’m excited, are you excited?