Missouri to Face Oregon in Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series

Missouri may have caught a break in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series, as the Tigers are slated to play Oregon for the next two years, starting with a game at Mizzou Arena on December 5 next season.

The Ducks, who beat Kansas State the last two years in the series (don’t call it a challenge, the conferences will get angry), return their top nine scorers. But that may not be a good thing for a team that finished in last place in the Pac-10 by four games this year.

If the conferences are trying to put together competitive matchups, this would seem to be a knock on Missouri, who crushed California 93-66 at Mizzou Arena in last season’s challenge.

To be fair, though, the Tigers probably won’t be in anyone’s preseason Top 25 unless they find a decent way to fill the gaping holes inside left by seniors DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons.

Last season, the Pac-10 won the final four games of the series to salvage a tie, 6-6, in the second year of its existence. During the 2007-2008 season, the Pac-10 won, 7-5. The full schedule for the challenge is as follows, with game times and television listings to be set at a later date:

Sunday, November 29
Nebraska at USC

Thursday, December 3
Washington at Texas Tech
USC at Texas
Baylor at Arizona State

Friday, December 4
Colorado at Oregon State

Saturday, December 5
Oregon at Missouri
Iowa State at California
Washington State at Kansas State

Sunday, December 6
Kansas at UCLA
Arizona at Oklahoma

Wednesday, December 16
Oklahoma State at Stanford

Tuesday, December 22
Texas A&M at Washington