Big 12 Basketball: The Importance of Missouri vs. Kansas

Missouri does not have time to wade in its loss to Kansas State.

On Saturday, February 25 the Tigers will walk into Phog Allen Fieldhouse to square off against the Kansas Jayhawks in arguably the most anticipated game left on the schedule.

The matchup between these two top-five teams is expected to be a preview of what Big 12 basketball fans should see in the conference title game, barring any Cinderella runs or a strong showing by Baylor, the third elite team in this very competitive conference.

Yet, what exactly is on the line for these two teams come Saturday?

For Missouri, a strong showing would do wonders to repair and strengthen the Tigers’ image on a national scale.

Currently ranked at third in the nation across multiple polls, this team needs to show the college basketball world that they are resilient after Tuesday’s loss to Kansas State.

In addition, bringing home the victory against this red-hot Jayhawks team would put Missouri back in contention for the Big 12 regular season title and show the NCAA tournament selection committee that the Tigers are deserving of a No. 1 seed come March Madness.

With a win in Lawrence, however, Missouri would prove two things aside from titles and seeding.

First, the unconventional four-guard play of Missouri has come under scrutiny when Mizzou has struggled.

In the first meeting, this style of play was a little difficult to get going for the Tigers against the big men of Kansas. However, they were able to hang with Kansas the entire game and used their classic style of play to outlast the Jayhawks.

If this guard-heavy rotation sees success in Allen Fieldhouse, the Tigers will certainly throw a wrench into any team’s defense that faces them come March.

Second, Lawrence is perhaps the most difficult atmosphere for an opponent to win in. Just take a look at the Allen Fieldhouse Experience put together by the Jayhawk’s athletic department and anyone can see why.

With a big upset on Kansas’ home court, Missouri will prove that they can play any team on any court in the country—a confidence that is an unparalleled trait in the NCAA tournament. 

For the Kansas Jayhawks, a win over Missouri may not prove nearly as much, but this game should not be discounted from their end.

The ultimate result of a victory on Saturday is not just essentially securing the Big 12 regular season title, but potentially earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Bracketologists across the college basketball landscape currently have Kansas as a No. 2 seed. Not because they have not earned themselves the highest spot, but because the field of top-tier teams this year is so great.

With a win over Missouri, Kansas will continue its storied tradition of excellence in college basketball and show analysts that the road to New Orleans for one region will have to go through the Kansas Jayhawks.

From an individual standpoint, this could be the game where Thomas Robinson confidently earns himself the Player of the Year award.

Missouri may not be ranked among the best when it comes to defense, but a strong showing against a higher ranked opponent could be just enough to engrave Robinson’s name on the trophy.

The Missouri Tigers may have come out on top in their last matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks, but this time around there is certainly much more on the line and much more to gain for whichever team comes out on top.