Big 12 Tournament 2012: Missouri vs. Kansas Rematch Is Inevitable

The Big 12 Tournament is all about the two powerhouses: No. 2 seeded Missouri and No. 1 seeded Kansas.

No other team has a chance of competing against either of these programs, and it’s practically guaranteed that they will meet in the championship game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO on March 10.

It is fitting that the Tigers and Jayhawks will play the 2011-12 rubber match in the final game of their conference postseason tournament as they both prepare to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.

First, a little background.

These teams first met on Feb. 4, and the Tigers came out ahead on their home court, 74-71.

However, Kansas did not soon forget and pulled out a stunning 87-86 overtime win in a thriller in Lawrence on Feb. 25. They came back from a 19-point deficit to force OT and absolutely deserved to win.

The fact that there have been two incredible contests between these two rivals in their final year of Big 12 competition feels like it came straight from a movie script.

Remember, Mizzou is leaving the conference and will begin SEC play for all sports after the 2012 season ends.

Kansas is sticking around, but there are no more games scheduled in the “Border War” between the adversaries and the long and intense rivalry seems to be at a close.

Obviously, both teams will want to have the final say to put an exclamation point on their season and win the last battle of the Border War.

There is simply no way anyone stands in their way, although Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas State will be worthy adversaries.

Expect Kansas and Mizzou to meet in the finals, as it is fate and a fitting end to an epic rivalry.