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Repost: Recapping the MU vs ku historical rivalry
Posted on: October 13, 2017 at 15:16:24 CT
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*** wasn't satisfied with the level of detail in first attempt, reposted with more content.
The Missouri/kansas rivalry dates back to civil war times and had been played out on the basketball court since 1907 and ongoing through 2012 when MU accepted an invitation to a superior conference and ku had no corresponding suitors and subsequently quit the rivalry.
Starting in civil war times, the citizens of the neighboring states were literally at war with one another and the competition involved actual lives and property, not just bragging rights. Appropriately both schools even selected their mascots from nicknames earned during the period. MU became the Tigers, named for the militia organized in Columbia in the 1850's for the purpose of warding off advancing Confederate troops attempting to invade Missouri and make it part of the Confederacy. Similarly, ku selected the term Jayhawk to represent them after the loosely organized bands of terrorists known to hack innocent civilians to death with broadswords and loot, destroy, and murder the neighboring Missouri townspeople. The two schools began facing off in intercollegiate competition in football 25 years later in 1891 in the neutral cite of Kansas City, making it the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. The concept of homecoming was born from this rivalry. To this day it remains a fierce rivalry with actual hatred rooted behind the competition.
On the court the series has been able to provide many memorable match ups and notable moments.
1907
The two teams first squared off on the hardwood in 1907. ku was in its 9th season of basketball, whereas the 1907 season would be the first at MU. The initial game was March 11, and after ku took a 12-11 lead into half time the first game fittingly ended regulation tied at 31. MU then held the jayhawks scoreless in the extra period while Tiger Carl Ristine made a basket and added a free throw to win the contest 34-31 in overtime. Ristine also was the captain of MU's 7-0-1 Mo Valley champion football team and he would be named MU's first ever men's basketball All Conference player that season. The two teams would play again the next day in what would be James Naismith's final game as a head coach and this time the result was a much more lopsided MU victory, 34-12. The two victories were the only times MU faced the game's inventor, leaving him with a 0-2 overall record in the series. Naismith, along with possibly W. O. Hamilton, owns the distinction as the only head coach to not improperly bring recruits to ku during his tenure.
1908-1915
During this period the teams took up the practice of playing each other 4 times a year, to a result that was far from favorable to MU. Kansas won 30 with MU winning only 2 which led to ku taking a decided advantage in the overall series head to head tallies, one which they have never relinquished.
1916
MU fielded its first strong team, one that featured the program's first All American in Fred Williams. The Tigers would take 3 of 4 from ku that season, with a particularly convincing win the last came in Lawrence. MU opened up a 25-5 halftime lead and rested their starters the remainder of the game on the way to a 42-20 victory. As the Columbia Tribune headlined proclaimed the next day: "Playing the scrubs against ku! Fond dream, thou art real at last." The next contest in Columbia was even more lopsided as MU again crushed ku 41-10 as Williams over doubled the output of the opposition with 24 points of his own. Mizzou would go on to finish at 13-3 overall and were ranked #16 in the final Premo-Porretta Power Poll. However, the wins came at the expense of the worst ku team to date, one that finished 6-12 overall.
1917
The two teams had split the games held in Lawrence for the season, and when ku traveled to Columbia in late February for two more contests the chance at securing the Mo Valley title was at play. MU would win 24-20 to knock ku from contention, and then the next day would beat them soundly 38-15 with Fred Williams making 9 field goals and surpassing the ku team field goal total. MU would win the most conference victories on the season but due to unbalanced scheduling finished behind KSU in the standings.
1918
This was the first season under Hall of Fame coach Walter Meanwell for MU, and it was also MU's first dominant team. Meanwell came to MU from Wisconsin where his teams had been declared the 1912, 1914, and 1916 Helms National Champions. MU was 6-0 and held a half game lead over ku prior to the two contests in Lawrence, but the KC Star wrote "Missouri, although leading the conference is doomed to drop into third place next week." The Tigers had different thoughts though sweeping the games from the jayhawks. For the 3rd straight year MU would take three of four from ku, but the lone loss in the final matchup would also serve as the season's only defeat for the Tigers. MU would finish 17-1 overall to claim their first Mo Valley title in a season they were also ranked 9th in the end of year Premo-Porretta poll.
1919
Missouri's head coach Meanwell would be pressed into military service before the season, so baseball coach John Miller took over instead. MU would win by 18 and then by 22 against the jayhawks in the first two contests held in Lawrence despite what was deemed a slipperly floor caused by a campus dance held on the court the night before. MU would win the 3rd contest as well, but in a game that eliminated MU from conference title contention ku upset MU 36-29 after the MU center was regulated to the bench and ku effectively played keep away in an era when a jump ball followed every made basket. MU would finish 2nd in the Valley at 14-3 overall and rank 12th nationally in the Premo-Porretta power poll.
1920
Meanwell would return to the bench, and at the same time Phog Allen would return to Kansas to take over ku. As Phog's biography states, "Meanwell was who Phog wanted to be and beat." He did not get what he wanted that first season as MU for the first time won all 4 games between the two schools for the season. Both programs came into the first contest unbeaten. MU would hold ku to just one first half field goal, but ku would surge back and send the game to overtime tied at 27. However Missouri would do all the scoring in the extra period and claim a 32-27 win. It was the closest ku would get as Phil Scott would score 20 for the Tigers in a 38-16 blowout the next night. During the two game sweep in Columbia, ku employed the services of Scrubby Laslett from the football team whose tripping and tackling during the game caused him to foul out in less than a period. Meanwell complained vocally that "He's going to ruin a good man out there" to which Allen replied in typical classlessness "sit down you big boob." After the game Meanwell stated, "I would not let a man like that play for Missouri if it meant I had to play with four men." MU would win 17 conference games for the Mo Valley title and would hold every opponent on the season below 30 points. Additionally they would remain undefeated until the season’s last game, finishing 2nd in the nation in the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.
1921
A forgotten team, 1921 is possibly MU’s most dominant in the context of their times in program history. Hall of Fame coach Walter Meanwell left in the offseason, but former Tiger All American Craig Ruby picked up right where he left off. Both MU and ku would enter the first matchup at 6-0, but George Williams would nearly outscore ku by himself with 21 points in a 27-22 win. Missouri would again sweep 4 games from ku, sending Allen’s record in the series to 0-8 since re-taking over ku. MU had now won 21 of the last 25 contests between the two teams. MU again matched its 17 conference win number in running away with the Mo Valley title and remained unbeaten again until the season’s final game. 3 out of the 5 members of the First Team All conference were Tigers and George Williams was named the National Player of the Year (the only Tiger ever named as such). His 17.2 ppg avg would stand as the MU record until 1954, and on the season MU’s opponents totaled 335 points and Williams himself scored 311. MU was considered the National Champion for the first time in program history by the Premo-Porretta Polls.
1922
For the first time in 15 years, only two games would be scheduled between the two teams (which would become the norm going forward). This would be key as the matchup and the outcomes took on huge proportions with both MU and ku fielding extremely strong teams. MU was the favorite as the two time defending Mo Valley champs while ku had not won the conference in 7 years. Both teams were undefeated when they first met in Lawrence. MU would lead the entire game on the way to a 35-25 victory. The all time series which was once 30-4 in favor of ku has now been closed to 34-25. MU was still undefeated when ku came to Columbia. Despite jayhawk starting forward Woestermeyer being declared academically ineligible prior to the game, Phog Allen sent him out for warm-ups and listed him as a starter in the lineup card. He did not play, but perhaps the trickery paid off as ku was able to claim a 26-16 upset. Both teams would finish the season in a tie at 15-1 in the Valley. MU would finish 17-1 overall and ku 16-2, with the margin of defeat in the two head to head contests being an equal 10 points. In an effort to break the tie, MU challenged ku to a playoff at a neutral site. ku declined the challenge using what the KC Star called an ‘alibi’ saying the season was long enough and they wanted to play no more games. ku was retroactively declared Helms National champions years later for which they still hang a National Champion banner to this day, whereas MU finished 1st in the season’s ending Premo-Porretta poll in the only instance of a future Big 8 school being declared back to back Premo-Porretta National Champs.
1923
Both teams remained formidable the next year, again going into the match up undefeated. ku travels to Columbia involved a broken down train, a broken down truck, and finally a several mile walk into town. The pre-game was notable for Phog Allen convincing his star Tusten Ackerman that he could avenge his childhood idol Tommy Johnson’s death (who died from a kidney ailment after a blow during a MU/ku football game years earlier) by leading ku to victory. A defensive struggle ensued that saw the teams deadlocked at 6-6 at halftime, and after taking a 16-10 lead MU gave up a run and lost 21-19. The rematch in Lawrence saw ku with a record of 15-0 and MU at 14-1, with ku playing for the chance at the first undefeated conference record since the Mo Valley began. A record breaking 3,000 people attended and saw the Jayhawks take a 20-11 lead. Despite a late run ku would hold on 23-20 to claim their first series win since 1915. With the two losses factored in MU finished 3rd in the national Premo-Porretta rankings, their lowest finish since 1919. ku was retroactively declared the Helms National Champions and finished one spot ahead of MU in second nationally in the Premo-Porretta rankings.
1924-27
ku wins every game in the series and wins the Mo Valley each year as well.
1928
In the final year for both schools in the Mo Valley, MU would return to winning against ku by sweeping both games of the season series. MU would finish second in their last year in the valley, though well behind 18-0 Oklahoma.
1929
Neither MU nor ku were remaining members of the Mo Valley, as this was the first year of the newly formed Big 6 conference. In the inaugural season MU won both contests in the series and finished in second place again behind undefeated Oklahoma, while ku brought up the rear after suffering through a 3-15 season. For the first time in series history the two teams faced off in a non-conference game that was played on Dec 23rd in Kansas City’s Convention Hall prior to the start of conference play. Tiger and Kansas Citian Harry Welsh made 10 field goals in a 38-31 MU victory. This gave MU a 3rd victory over ku on the year.
1930
The season was marked by the Tiger’s move from home games at Rothwell Gymnasium into a brand new Field House. The structure cost $225,000, a hefty price tag in those days, and quadrupled the seating capacity for MU home games. But before the two programs could break the new building in, an exhibition just prior to Christmas was scheduled in Kansas City. In one of the lowest combined scores in MU history the Tigers fell 17-12. For the first conference matchup between the clubs, MU came into the game at 5-2 and ku was 6-0 and still undefeated on the season. A jayhawk win would assure them at least a tie for the Big 6 title. To bring further importance to the game, Missouri chose the occasion to dedicate and name the new field house as Brewer Field House and the entertainment was complete with halftime wall scaling, tumbling, and dancing for the 4,000 in attendance. 6’6 Charlie Huhn of the Tigers would score 14 to lead MU to a 29-18 victory that resulted in a 1 game gap between the programs in the standings. The final matchup was also the final game of the season for both teams. They were tied atop the standings at 7-2 with the conference title going to the winner. It would be the Tigers first game at the new Hoch Auditorium. The auditorium was to hold a capacity of 3,000 but 4,200 attended, 500 more than had ever before seen a game in Lawrence. MU took a 20-9 halftime lead and then coasted to a 23-18 victory. Ku fails to score 20 points in any of the three contests, making it the only instance in series history a team failed to top the 20 point mark in any games. The win resulted in Missouri’s first Big 6 crown. They would finish 15-3 overall and place 10th in the national Premo-Porretta polls at season’s end.
1932
MU's John Cooper is credited with being the college game's first jump shooter and leads the conference in scoring. Using his 5’11 frame he could put both hands inside the basket with his superior leaping ability, and when facing a bigger opponent he would hold the ball in the paint spinning and faking until he got the defender out of position. Thanks to Cooper MU would claim a 26-22 win in Columbia. Persistent whiner Phog Allen successfully petitioned the conference to adopt a 3 second rule in the paint to limit his effectiveness following the season.
1935
The series would switch back to a 4 game set with two at home and two away for one season. In odd conference scheduling ISU and NU would play each conference team twice while MU, ku, KSU, and OU would play each other 4 times each. That meant 10 conference games for the former group and 16 for the latter group. Kansas would win both in Lawrence. MU would close the year against conference leading ku in a pair of games, where wins for ku would secure their 5th straight league title. ku's Ray Ebling was the league's leading scorer, but was held to a total of 2 total points combined in the contests and MU swept ku to give ISU their first league crown.
1936
MU suffered through one of their worst seasons ever, with their leading scorer on the year Evans Powell avging only 5.1 ppg. ku would sweep the two game series. In the 29-25 loss in Columbia the band played ‘Three Blind Mice’ when officials made bad calls and Phog Allen complained formally to the conference when MU fans chant a modified version “Rock Chalk Dead Hawk” throughout the entire contest.
1939
One year after the NIT ushered in the era of national tournaments, the NCAA tournament first came into being during this season as an 8 team field (although it was officially called the National Association of Basketball Coaches Tournament the first year). Needing a win in the season’s final game for a conference title facing the defending conference champ jayhawks, a then record crowd of 5,000+ crammed into Brewer to witness MU rush out to a 29-11 halftime lead over ku and cruise to a 54-30 win and a Big 6 title. (At one point ku played with only 4 men when Phog Allen’s son Bob fouled out and his dad didn’t notice enough to replace him) In doing so the Tigers qualified for the 8 team field in the first NCAA tournament, but declined the invitation due to travel costs. OU represented the conference instead, and in what took on historical significance in hindsight defeated Utah State easily in the opening round to become the conference’s first “Final Four” participant.
1940
MU would celebrate its 100th year of existance, and the football team would play in the New Year’s Day Orange Bowl. As such two MU stars (Blaine Currence and Clay Cooper who also played football) were not available until after the season had started. When the defending conference champion Tigers hosted ku in Columbia the game was seen by 5,500 thanks to new additional bleachers installed in Brewer that expanded capacity. MU won 42-31 and took a 3-0 early conference leading record. In the second contest MU would need another win to secure the conference championship. In a precursor to Norm Stewart’s tradition, MU stayed at the Hotel President in Kansas City, MO before the contest to avoid supporting the Kansas economy. Once in Lawrence MU was greeted by 4,300 ku fans and a jayhawk team that needed a victory for a shot at the conference crown themselves. MU took a 25-24 lead into halftime, and with 5 minutes to play the score was deadlocked at 40-40. At that point ku made 1 of 2 free throws to take a 41-40 lead and Phog Allen took advantage of an experimental rule put in play that season in college basketball. Not only did ku not attempt to shoot, but if fouled they could elect to take foul shots or just take the ball out of bounds. Each time MU attempted to foul to regain possession of the basketball, ku elected to retain possession and take the ball out of bounds which resulted in a narrow ku 1 point victory. MU, ku, and OU would all finish at 8-2 to split the conference title. This time MU saw fit to attempt to continue their season and a tournament was set up to decide who would earn the Big 6’s bid. Unfortunately MU lost to OU who then lost to ku, and Kansas represented the conference. After dispatching Rice in the opening round, the jayhawks hit a shot with 16 seconds remaining to lift themselves to a 43-42 win over USC and into the conference’s first national title game where they were blown out by Indiana. The tournament was the first to be held in KC’s Municipal Auditorium thus the implications of losing the final game to ku on Allen's 5 minute stall tactic and sole possession of the conference crown was magnified as MU would have been playing at home in an 8 team field in the NCAA tournament.
1943
In Lawrence, jayhawk All American Charlie Black would score 33 points in an easy 69-44 ku win to open conference play for both teams. However Black was unavailable in the rematch due to pneumonia. MU took an early second half lead of 36-29 but ku managed to tie it at the end of regulation at 43-43. From there ku scored the only field goals of the extra period and won 47-44 in overtime en route to their fourth straight conference title.
1944
With the country embattled in war, fielding a team became one of the largest challenges of the 1944 season. While ku was the host to a naval training unit and thus drew from a deep pool of non-civilians, MU had to make due with those either unfit to serve or those deferred from service. MU’s star would be 17 year old Dan Pippen who was too young for military service. The teams would face off first in the championship game of a 4 team tourney held in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Although MU took an 18-7 lead, they ultimately lost 34-27. The two schools would open conference play against each other in Columbia and after a tied game of 14-14 at halftime MU stunned ku with a 35-28 victory. However the rematch in Lawrence was much less favorable as ku won easily 40-27. MU would finish in 3rd place, but in a key distinction was first among non-military teams. ISU was granted the bid to the NCAA tournament as conference champs, but declined out of fear they wouldn’t be able to keep their team together. The same situation was presented to second place OU and the same determination was made. With MU next in line speculation arose that the Tigers would get their first invitation until ISU reconsidered at the last minute to take the Big 6 bid. However 10 days after the regular season ended the University of Iowa withdrew and with its proximity to KC where the tournament would be held MU was extended their first ever NCAA tourney invite by default. MU would face Utah and would lose 35-25 but by merely participating earned the program’s first Elite Eight. Utah would go on to win the NCAA title and became the only team ever to win a title starting 5 freshman. MU played Pepperdine in the regional consolation game and coasted to a 61-46 victory, the program’s first NCAA tournament win.
1947
In the first matchup between Phog Allen and new Tiger coach Sparky Stalcup, Allen would rush across the court during play, after Pleasant Smith collided with ku All American Charlie Black chasing a loose ball, and shove Stalcup as he argued with a referee. Stalcup would raise his fist and shout, “Get the hell back on your side of the court,” before being restrained. MU would go on to claim their first win in Lawrence in 17 years 39-34 thanks to 17 points by Dan Pippen. The rematch in Columbia featured one of the odder matchups in series history as a flu outbreak on campus resulted in only reporters and radio announcers allowed inside the gymnasium to watch the teams play in front of an empty house. In addition Phog Allen wasn’t even present to coach ku as he had suffered a concussion in practice. MU’s entire starting 5 would foul out and ku’s Bill Sapp would throw a non-connecting punch as ku took a 48-38 win.
1952
The two teams would meet in the championship game of the Big 7 tournament. Tiger freshman Win Wilfong would score a team high 17 but after falling to the floor attempting to grab a rebound in the final three minutes would be stomped on by ku All American Clyde Lovellette, who was ejected. A near brawl erupted and although the players were eventually calmed the booing from the crowd lasted past the end of the game, which ku won 75-65. Unable to get the incited crowd to leave the PA announcer proclaimed, “I hope everyone remembers where you are, this is America not Russia.” Finally Sparky Stalcup took the microphone. “MU enjoys this rivaly with ku and Doc Allen is a great coach,” he lied. He then sent his players over to the ku bench and MU began shaking hands, with Wilfong even hugging Lovellette. The irate crowd subdued. ku would come to Columbia sporting a 11-0 record later in the season, with an important recruit on an official visit to Columbia. A young Norm Stewart was in attendance at the game along with 5,800 Tiger fans and was attempting to decide between offers to play at either ku or MU (The Indiana head coach Branch McCracken would advise him to attend MU and he thus became a Tiger) ku would take a 14 point halftime lead only to see MU charge back and lead 59-58 with under three to play on a shot from the corner by Wilfong. As MU attempted to run out the clock they were whistled for a traveling violation and ku converted with thirty seconds left to win 60-59. After the game, upset about a supposed timekeeping error Phog Allen erupts berating anyone in listening distance with ‘unprintable remarks’ according to the KC Star, leading MU AD Don Faurot to confront him and state, “Now get out of here Doc, you are causing enough trouble” and grab him by the arm and escort him off the court. The 1 point victory was hugely important in ku history, as the jayhawks would outpace KSU by 1 win in the conference race and in winning the Big 7 received a bid to the NCAA tournament. ku then won their only NCAA title not directly linked to probation in program history. Had that travel not been called, ku would still be searching for their first legit National Championship.
1954
MU would face ku in the season finale sporting a 10-10 overall record, attempting to avoid a losing season against the 13th ranked jayhawks. Notably it was Norm Stewart’s first contest against ku in Columbia. Bob Reiter would score 28 for MU and Norm would add 22 of his own as MU upset ku 76-67. The jayhawk loss forced them into a tie with Colorado for the league title, and CU was selected as the conference’s NCAA Tournament representative even though they were 11-11 and ku was 16-5 ending the jayhawks season.
1955: In their last matchup at Hoch Auditorium MU claims a 76-65 win to move to #6 in the AP Polls, their highest ranking ever at that point. The Tigers complete the season sweep with a 19 point victory in Columbia.
1955
The season marked the last for ku’s Hoch Auditorium, and the two teams opened conference play facing off for the last time in that building. ku had not lost in 33 straight games there, and MU had not won there since 1948. MU came in winners of the Big 7 Holiday tournament and with victories over Arkansas, Illinois, at Indiana, and over #4 Iowa. On the strength of a huge game by Bob Reiter of 21 points and 24 rebounds MU closed down Hoch Auditorium in fitting fashion with a 76-65 win. MU would move to #6 in the AP Polls, their highest ranking ever at that point. In Columbia MU would complete the season sweep with a 90-71 victory, becoming the first team in the series history to top the 90 point mark in a game. Med Park scored a career high 27 for MU. Approached after the game by journalists for the Savitar for a comment, Phog Allen replied, “Get the hell out of here.”
1956
It was Phog Allen's final season, and it was the senior year at MU for Norm Stewart. The Tigers would open league play against the jayhawks and beat them soundly 76-54. Then in the only ever meeting between the Tigers and Phog Allen in the arena that bears his name MU completed the season sweep and became the first team to claim a victory in the new Allen Field House. MU jumped out to an early 28-9 lead on their way to an 85-78 win. The win made Phog Allen loser of his last five career regular season contests with MU, and gave Norm Stewart a regular season playing record of 5-1 against the jayhawks.
1957
ku had improperly won a title in 1952 after buying Clyde Lovelette out of his Indiana commitment, but never before had they been so bold in purchasing players as they were with revolutionary talent Wilt Chamberlain. Their investment paid off, particularly since they didn’t receive probation until after Wilt left ku to play for the Globetrotters. Sparky Stalcup at MU was taking the polar opposite stance and as described in “True Sons” was ethical to a fault and a bit naive to the way the game and recruiting was changing. He stated, “a school like Missouri will not relax its educational requirements for the sake of getting an exceptional athlete. The era of the dumb athlete is fast drawing to a close.” Stalcup falsely put his faith in the NCAA. Chamberlain had recorded a 52 point 31 rebound game in his varsity debut, and MU took a minor victory in holding him to only 23 in a 92-79 loss in Lawrence. They were not so fortunate when the two programs squared off in Columbia. Chamberlain would set the record for the most points ever scored by an opponent at Brewer Field House with 32 while adding 20 rebounds and 5 blocks despite sitting out the last 7 minutes of a 91-58 blowout. Chamberlain and ku would advance to the national title game before losing in triple overtime 54-53.
1961
In 1961, a rivalry that was filled with consistent animosity boiled over into hatred of a different level. That fall, MU fielded the best football team in the nation. But their national championship as well as their undefeated season was thwarted on the season’s last game via ku using an ineligible player to defeat them. ku forfeited the game for cheating but that did nothing for MU’s national title hopes. Additionally, although they would celebrate such concepts 30 years later with Roy Williams, ku fans were outraged in that they felt it was MU’s coaching staff that had turned ku in to the NCAA. ku fans were further upset because the NCAA had deemed the salary and luxury automobile provided to Wilt Chamberlain in exchange for him having to represent Kansas was excessive and outside the scope of amateurism. So ku’s basketball team was back on probation and ineligible for postseason play. With that backdrop the two teams first met in Lawrence, and in typical classlessness displayed by ku fans the national anthem had to be halted and eventually abandoned when they couldn’t get the angry mob of ku fans under control. ku would win 88-73 for their 10th straight victory in the series. The two teams would face again in Columbia late in the year, and not only were ku’s hopes at securing a Big 8 title on the line but also the league individual scoring title was up for grabs. The prior year ku star Wayne Hightower and Tiger Charlie Henke had finished first and second in the Big 8 in scoring, and going into the season’s last contest they were again neck and neck at the top. The game was nationally televised and legendary announcer Jack Buck was to call the game. Henke at that point was both MU’s all time leading scorer and rebounder and his 24.6 ppg avg for the season is still MU’s second highest ever. Henke came out firing and completely frustrated the helpless jayhawks. He would score 20 points in the first half on 9 of 12 shooting, but just before the half in a preview of what was to come Joe Scott was charged with a technical for roughing. That meant the second half began with ku shooting free throws and that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Just under 5 minutes into the second half, Henke fouled Hightower on a shot attempt. The ku center whirled around and started wildly throwing punches. Suddenly the benches emptied and then the stands did as well as for nearly 3 minutes a national audience was witness to the bad blood in epic proportions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AldG_kiNZ9Q
When the chaos ended, both Hightower and Henke were ejected (meaning MU’s all time leadings scorer and rebounder was ejected from senior day in his final MU game, although he did win the conference scoring title as well as be named an All American). MU would go on to win the game 79-76 for their first victory in the series since 1956 as well as end ku’s chance to catch KSU in the conference race. Both athletic directors would meet after the game to discuss the possibility of ending the series as well as any athletic relationships. MU AD Don Faurot stated, “If any bitterness exists it has been brought about by the people of Kansas. The responsibility for the brawl rests with Hightower for throwing the first punch and the ku bench for rushing into the fray.” Ultimately though MU relinquished and allowed ku to continue the series.
1962
MU defeats the jayhawks 79-66 in Columbia in Tiger coach Sparky Stalcup’s last season. The victory means Stalcup won in his first trip to Lawrence, his last trip to Hoch Auditorium, his first game in Allen Field House, and his last contest with ku. But neither program had much to cheer about, as they both finished tied for last in the Big 8 at 3-11 and with matching 9-16 records overall.
1963
Bob Vanetta’s first contest with ku as the MU head coach ends with a 62-56 Tiger victory. But again both programs are at the bottom of the league standings with matching 5-9 conference records.
1964
The season would be Dick Harp’s last as the ku head coach. The teams would face three times including the conference tourney and MU would claim 3 victories against ku for the season sweep, making MU winners of 5 of the last 6 meetings.
1966
The two teams would face each other for the first time with either being ranked since the 1957 season as ku would be AP #7. The jayhawks would win both season matchups, the first by 44 and the second by 23, as the Tigers suffered through their worst season. They lost 13 of 14 conference games and went 3-21 overall. So depleted were the Tigers that 6’ guard Charlie Rudd jumped center for them and led the team in rebounds for the season.
1968
Fresh off back to back 3 win seasons, MU entered a new era with first year coach and former player Norm Stewart at the helm. His first trip to Lawrence would be a memorable one. In front of 11,000 ku fans the Tigers would close a 10 point deficit in the final 5 minutes to tie the game at 65. The jayhawks would hold for the final shot and on the attempt with two seconds remaining MU was whistled for a foul sending ku to the line. The jayhawks converted one of two for a 66-65 lead and only two seconds left. MU took the ball out under the basket, fired a pass to half court, and was fouled by ku attempting to steal the ball resulting in a one and one attempt. Tom Johnson calmly stepped to the line for the Tigers with all the other players watching from the benches and with no time remaining knocked down both shots for a 67-66 MU win. Johnson, who finished with a game high 23, was carried off the court at Allen Field House on his teammates shoulders and Norm collected his first victory over ku as a head coach in his first trip to Lawrence.
1969
MU would host 5th ranked ku in Columbia coming off 3 straight losses on their schedule. Trailing the jayhawks 46-45 with three minutes to play in the game, Norm Stewart elected to hold the ball for a last shot. MU literally stands with the ball at midcourt until 15 seconds remain and then sets in motion a play resulting in a made 20 footer by Theo Franks that gave the Tigers a 47-46 victory. In the rematch in Lawrence against the now #12 jayhawks, Stewart would send Captain Don Tomlinson during the pregame warm-ups to meet with ku coach Ted Owens and demand the ku end of the floor with Stewart listening and laughing beneath the bleachers. MU would win again 56-55 for the season sweep.
1971
The final game of the season would pit the familiar rivals against each other, and it was notably also believed to be the last game to be played at Brewer Field House as MU would be moving into a new arena the next year. ku came into the game ranked #4 and sported a 23-1 record, whereas MU was attempting to wrap up sole possession of second place and the NIT bid that would accompany it. 75 former Tiger letterman and 6,000 standing room only Tiger fans were on hand to witness the contest. MU built a 37-28 halftime lead, but despite never trailing in the second half MU went the final 2:47 without scoring and allowed ku to tie it up and send the game into overtime. A back and forth overtime period resulted in a 1 point margin with 46 seconds left when MU was called for an intentional foul. Despite missing both shots, ku retained the ball and then converted both ends of a one and one with 46 seconds remaining to make the score 70-67. MU had 4 attempts at the basket in the final 45 seconds but missed all 4 attempts and the jayhawks escaped with a two point overtime win. “We gave it a great shot,” said Norm Stewart afterward. “Our kids wanted to win real badly, had it won and didn’t.”
1972
The completion of the new arena for MU was delayed, so the Tigers would undertake another season at Brewer. In what would actually be the final match up between the two programs in Brewer, the 15th ranked Tigers would collect a 64-60 win against the jayhawks. When the teams met in Lawrence, MU was now ranked 14th but a certain jayhawk was about to put on a one man show. Bud Stallworth was playing his final game in Lawrence, and even though a win would only mean a tie for 4th place in conference the eventual #7 overall pick in the NBA draft a few months later said beating MU was foremost on his mind. “I don’t care who wins the championship”, he stated, “We just came out to beat Missouri.” Stallworth had 27 points at half, but MU took a 43-41 halftime lead. Stallworth was not finished. Despite play having to be halted twice in the second half due to typical ku fan classlessness of throwing debris on the court, Stallworth finished the game with 50 points in a 93-80 ku victory. The 50 point total was the highest ever in a Big 8 conference game, and is still the largest individual scoring output in series history. “It’s easy to diagnose,” said Norm Stewart after the game. “We just played terrible defense , as poor as we’ve played all year.” MU would finish in 2nd place for the second year in a row in the Big 8.
1973
The first season in Hearnes was also John Brown's senior season. Brown would conclude his career as MU’s all time leading scorer and rebounder and be the 10th overall pick in the NBA draft. His Tiger’s had climbed to #5 in the polls but were coming off a loss to Colorado when they faced ku for the first time. It was his frontcourt mate Al Eberhard (a future first round NBA draft pick himself) that would lead the Tigers with 27 as MU defeated the jayhawks 75-72. The rematch in Lawrence saw #13 MU trailing by 18 in the second half. However, as ku fans pelted the MU bench with paper cups during the comeback MU roared back and claimed a 73-69 win to sweep the series. Brown and Eberhard combined for 49 points and 37 rebounds. As he ran off the court an elated Norm Stewart hollered at the hostile crowd, “The worst fans in America!” repeatedly as he returned to the victor's locker room. The win allowed MU to secure their third straight second place conference finish, while ku had its second straight year of being in the bottom half of the conference.
1976
The Tigers and jayhawks would match up first at Kemper Arena in the conference holiday tournament, the first such meeting between the two teams since 1951. Willie Smith and Jim Kennedy would combine for 49 points in a 79-69 Tiger victory that gave MU its 4th tournament title in 5 years. MU would then open conference play against the jayhawks and the game would not be nearly as close, a 99-69 MU rout. In the next meeting, this time in Lawrence with MU ranked #14, Willie Smith would rebound a miss and tip it in at the buzzer for a 61-60 Tiger win to complete a three game sweep. The wins were pivotal in that they gave MU a one game margin over second place KSU and their first conference regular season title outright since 1930.
1977
The conference holiday tournament would again pit MU vs ku in the championship game. MU would win their 5th title in 6 years with a 69-65 victory. The game in Lawence featured the explosive fireworks the series has become to be known for. MU took a 41-35 halftime lead, but with 13:38 left in the first half Tiger All Conference forward Jim Kennedy and jayhawk reserve Donnie Von Moore began trading punches under the MU goal after ku’s Herb Nobles threw an elbow at Kennedy. Both benches emptied and the fight continued in the corner of the arena. When order was restored, both players were ejected. Without Kennedy, the Tigers would go the final 6 minutes of the game only scoring 1 point and ku would come back to take a 77-72 victory. Norm Stewart, who was also shoved by a ku fan while still on the court after the game, said he and his team were verbally threatened on the way to the locker room. “There is no place in basketball for conduct of coaches, players, and fans like there was today and I’m talking about Kansas University. I was very disappointed at the words spoken to me by the ku head coach,” he said in the postgame. ku coach Ted Owens only responded, “That’s how you coach basketball.” MU would also defeat ku 87-79 in Columbia to secure second place in the Big 8, marking the 6th time in the last 7 contests MU was victorious.
1979
Curtis Berry records the last 20 point/20 rebound game in MU history in a 58-55 win over ku that ties Norm Stewart for the all time lead in wins at MU.
1980-83
Steve Stipanovich and Jon Sundvold go 6-2 vs conference also ran ku in the regular season on the way to an unprecedented 4 straight league titles.
1987
In the first year of the 3 point shot in the Big 8, freshman Lee Coward hits a buzzer beater from long range to give MU a 63-60 victory over ku. After going on to win the league title, they again met ku in the conference title game. Coward would again hit a buzzer beater to give MU the conference tourney title as well.
1988
After finishing 3rd and 4th in the Big 8 respectively, both programs receive a 6 seed in the NCAA tourney. MU was ranked as high as 15th until March, whereas ku had been completely unranked since January. ku capitalizes on their bracket falling apart to reach the Final Four and playing in KC, where they win one of the most improbable NCAA titles in history (before immediately going on probation and receiving a postseason ban).
1989
In their first meeting with new head coach Roy Williams, MU hands ku their worst ever loss in Allen Field house in a 91-66 beating. ku is the ineligible for the postseason, still the only defending NCAA champion ever to be.
1990
ku would come to Columbia as the nation’s #1 ranked team and undefeated, while MU was #4 with only one loss. After collecting a 95-87 win, MU supplanted ku and took over the #1 ranking. The rematch in Lawrence pitted at this point #1 ku vs #2 MU, the only time in the history of the matchup the teams met with the top two spots in the polls. MU would win again to reclaim the #1 ranking and send Roy Williams record to 0-4 vs MU.
1992
Against #3 ranked ku, Anthony Peeler puts on a one man show. Leading all scorers with 24 with just less than 8 minutes remaining, Peeler scored 19 more down the stretch to finish with 43. But after cutting the lead to 2 with less than a minute to play a questionable foul on Peeler resulted in the Tigers falling short and losing 97-89.
1994
MU defeats #3 ku in Columbia, and then in the rematch in Lawrence on the strength of 32 from Melvin Booker MU again defeats #4 ku to propel themselves into an undefeated conference season, just the third time in Big 8 history it had been accomplished.
1996
MU defeats #3 ku to give the jayhawks one of their only three losses in the regular season.
1997
ku brings their best team of all time into Columbia with a #1 ranking. They would leave with a double overtime loss after Corey Tate hit a buzzer beater to give MU a 96-94 win. It was the only regular season loss ku would suffer on the year, while MU would fail to qualify for any postseason with a below .500 record on the season.
1998
Norm’s Tigers again knock off a #3 ranked ku team despite fielding a team that only won 15 regular season games. It is the third straight loss in Columbia for Roy Williams.
1999
After classless Ryan Robertson taunted MU fans when he finally won a game in Columbia for the first time, Norm instructs his players after they win in Lawrence to “walk off the court like you’ve been there before.” No small feat since MU was the last conference opponent to win in Lawrence back in 1994 and since the formation of the Big 12 ku had only lost 4 conference games (three of which were to MU). After wrapping up a 71-63 victory in what would be Norm's last season, MU calmly walked off the court in front of a silenced jayhawk crowd and went on to finish second on the year in conference. It would be the final time Norm would face ku.
2000
Against #7 ku Clarence Gilbert explodes for 27 points before they are able to injure him, leading MU to an 81-59 crushing of the jayhawks. "I think we broke their hearts," Missouri forward Johnnie Parker said afterward. "I was talking to a couple of their guys after the game and they were really down, and I've really never seen Kansas that way."
2001
On a day when Norm Stewart had his jersey retired, #3 ku falls 75-66 to unranked MU. "The frustrating thing is I don't think they had their A game, and I think Quin would say the same thing," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "But whatever letter grade you give their game, it was five or six times better than ours." Kareem Rush had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers.
2002
After trailing by only 1 point at halftime in Lawrence, the Tigers get blown out 105-73. In the rematch in Columbia ku entered the game ranked #1, but with the Tigers leading with less than 2 min to play Nick Collision hit an uncharacteristic 3 pointer and the jayhawks hung on for a 95-92 win.
2003
After losing due to back to back slop baskets on the final possessions in Columbia by Miles and Hienrich, MU faces #4 ku in the conference tournament and dispatches them 68-63 to advance to the conference finals. “We’re going to be disappointed. I'm gonna be ****ed off. If that language bothers you, I apologize. My wife doesn’t like for me to say that, “ said Roy Williams after the game.
2004
In his last home game and the final game played at Hearnes, Arthur Johnson scores 37 points but his effort is spoiled as freshman David Padgent rifles the ball into the front of the rim at the buzzer and was the recipient of a fortunate bounce. ku won 84-82 and sent MU to the NIT.
2005
In the first ever meeting in Mizzou Arena, #7 ku loses to 15-15 overall MU 72-68.
2006: Thomas Gardner erupts for 40 points and Christian Moody miss two free throws with no time remaining to send the game to overtime, a game MU eventually wins 89-86.
2007
In the first matchup with Mike Anderson, MU travels to #5 ranked ku in Lawrence. MU trailed 78-77 with 44 second remaining, but a basket by Sherron Collins put the margin at 3 and a Matt Lawrence 3 point attempt at the buzzer failed to draw iron. Ineligible player Darell Arthur scored 9 in the contest for ku.
2008
ku entered the game in Columbia with a nation’s best 25 point margin of victory, but would lead only by as much as 8 in a game that came down to the final minute. Leo Lyons would foul out in only 13 min of play due to questionable officiating, and ku would hold off the Tigers 76-70 on the strength of 23 combined points from ineligible players Darell Arthur and Brandon Rush and a 45 to 22 disparity in free throw attempts.
2009
Despite only scoring 16 points in the first half and a shooting a season low 36% from the field, MU was able to force 27 turnovers and hold ku to only 1 basket the final 8 minutes. Zaire Taylor converted at the buzzer to give MU a 62-60 win.
2011
#2 ranked ku leverages its home court advantage to foul out both Tiger big men who were shooting 81.3% from the field against ku’s overmatched bigs into a second half victory. The Tigers were unable to rise to the occasion in the rematch, shooting a season worst 29% from the field and 13% behind the arc, and fell by 4 points to #2 ku.
2012
In the final matchup in series history to be played in Columbia, #4 MU squares off against #8 ku with Marcus Denmon putting on a show resulting in 29 points and a 74-71 win. It was the first game of the season the Tigers won by less than 11 points. The rematch in Lawrence pitted the #3 Tigers vs the #4 ranked jayhawks, with MU outclassing ku to a large 19 point second half lead before officiating and attrition allowed the jayhawks to close the margin. As the closing seconds waned, the implausible turned to the absurd regarding officiating and ku was able to send the game into overtime and complete the travesty towards the integrity of the game with an 87-86 victory. Norm’s old adage of needing to be at least 15 points better than ku on a given day to win in Lawrence proved to be untrue, as on this occasion the Tigers were 19 points better and it still was not enough.
And that is where things should have ended. The coach who never got over MU selecting a better candidate instead of him to replace Norm had to watch as the SEC also selected a better candidate than his program to improve their conference and he became bitterly jilted at being left behind in the crumbling remains of the Big 12 with no options. He vowed to never play MU again out of spite, and held steadfast in that emotional immaturity as he continued to schedule and face all of the other members of the Big 12 conference that left for superior options. But despite nothing seeming to bother him more, other than the loss of his hair, to raise money for hurricane relief the two programs will again face off in an NCAA approved exhibition at the Sprint Center prior to this season.
The Missouri/kansas rivalry dates back to civil war times and had been played out on the basketball court since 1907 and ongoing through 2012 when MU accepted an invitation to a superior conference and ku had no corresponding suitors and subsequently quit the rivalry.
Starting in civil war times, the citizens of the neighboring states were literally at war with one another and the competition involved actual lives and property, not just bragging rights. Appropriately both schools even selected their mascots from nicknames earned during the period. MU became the Tigers, named for the militia organized in Columbia in the 1850's for the purpose of warding off advancing Confederate troops attempting to invade Missouri and make it part of the Confederacy. Similarly, ku selected the term Jayhawk to represent them after the loosely organized bands of terrorists known to hack innocent civilians to death with broadswords and loot, destroy, and murder the neighboring Missouri townspeople. The two schools began facing off in intercollegiate competition in football 25 years later in 1891 in the neutral cite of Kansas City, making it the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. The concept of homecoming was born from this rivalry. To this day it remains a fierce rivalry with actual hatred rooted behind the competition.
On the court the series has been able to provide many memorable match ups and notable moments.
1907
The two teams first squared off on the hardwood in 1907. ku was in its 9th season of basketball, whereas the 1907 season would be the first at MU. The initial game was March 11, and after ku took a 12-11 lead into half time the first game fittingly ended regulation tied at 31. MU then held the jayhawks scoreless in the extra period while Tiger Carl Ristine made a basket and added a free throw to win the contest 34-31 in overtime. Ristine also was the captain of MU's 7-0-1 Mo Valley champion football team and he would be named MU's first ever men's basketball All Conference player that season. The two teams would play again the next day in what would be James Naismith's final game as a head coach and this time the result was a much more lopsided MU victory, 34-12. The two victories were the only times MU faced the game's inventor, leaving him with a 0-2 overall record in the series. Naismith, along with possibly W. O. Hamilton, owns the distinction as the only head coach to not improperly bring recruits to ku during his tenure.
1908-1915
During this period the teams took up the practice of playing each other 4 times a year, to a result that was far from favorable to MU. Kansas won 30 with MU winning only 2 which led to ku taking a decided advantage in the overall series head to head tallies, one which they have never relinquished.
1916
MU fielded its first strong team, one that featured the program's first All American in Fred Williams. The Tigers would take 3 of 4 from ku that season, with a particularly convincing win the last came in Lawrence. MU opened up a 25-5 halftime lead and rested their starters the remainder of the game on the way to a 42-20 victory. As the Columbia Tribune headlined proclaimed the next day: "Playing the scrubs against ku! Fond dream, thou art real at last." The next contest in Columbia was even more lopsided as MU again crushed ku 41-10 as Williams over doubled the output of the opposition with 24 points of his own. Mizzou would go on to finish at 13-3 overall and were ranked #16 in the final Premo-Porretta Power Poll. However, the wins came at the expense of the worst ku team to date, one that finished 6-12 overall.
1917
The two teams had split the games held in Lawrence for the season, and when ku traveled to Columbia in late February for two more contests the chance at securing the Mo Valley title was at play. MU would win 24-20 to knock ku from contention, and then the next day would beat them soundly 38-15 with Fred Williams making 9 field goals and surpassing the ku team field goal total. MU would win the most conference victories on the season but due to unbalanced scheduling finished behind KSU in the standings.
1918
This was the first season under Hall of Fame coach Walter Meanwell for MU, and it was also MU's first dominant team. Meanwell came to MU from Wisconsin where his teams had been declared the 1912, 1914, and 1916 Helms National Champions. MU was 6-0 and held a half game lead over ku prior to the two contests in Lawrence, but the KC Star wrote "Missouri, although leading the conference is doomed to drop into third place next week." The Tigers had different thoughts though sweeping the games from the jayhawks. For the 3rd straight year MU would take three of four from ku, but the lone loss in the final matchup would also serve as the season's only defeat for the Tigers. MU would finish 17-1 overall to claim their first Mo Valley title in a season they were also ranked 9th in the end of year Premo-Porretta poll.
1919
Missouri's head coach Meanwell would be pressed into military service before the season, so baseball coach John Miller took over instead. MU would win by 18 and then by 22 against the jayhawks in the first two contests held in Lawrence despite what was deemed a slipperly floor caused by a campus dance held on the court the night before. MU would win the 3rd contest as well, but in a game that eliminated MU from conference title contention ku upset MU 36-29 after the MU center was regulated to the bench and ku effectively played keep away in an era when a jump ball followed every made basket. MU would finish 2nd in the Valley at 14-3 overall and rank 12th nationally in the Premo-Porretta power poll.
1920
Meanwell would return to the bench, and at the same time Phog Allen would return to Kansas to take over ku. As Phog's biography states, "Meanwell was who Phog wanted to be and beat." He did not get what he wanted that first season as MU for the first time won all 4 games between the two schools for the season. Both programs came into the first contest unbeaten. MU would hold ku to just one first half field goal, but ku would surge back and send the game to overtime tied at 27. However Missouri would do all the scoring in the extra period and claim a 32-27 win. It was the closest ku would get as Phil Scott would score 20 for the Tigers in a 38-16 blowout the next night. During the two game sweep in Columbia, ku employed the services of Scrubby Laslett from the football team whose tripping and tackling during the game caused him to foul out in less than a period. Meanwell complained vocally that "He's going to ruin a good man out there" to which Allen replied in typical classlessness "sit down you big boob." After the game Meanwell stated, "I would not let a man like that play for Missouri if it meant I had to play with four men." MU would win 17 conference games for the Mo Valley title and would hold every opponent on the season below 30 points. Additionally they would remain undefeated until the season’s last game, finishing 2nd in the nation in the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.
1921
A forgotten team, 1921 is possibly MU’s most dominant in the context of their times in program history. Hall of Fame coach Walter Meanwell left in the offseason, but former Tiger All American Craig Ruby picked up right where he left off. Both MU and ku would enter the first matchup at 6-0, but George Williams would nearly outscore ku by himself with 21 points in a 27-22 win. Missouri would again sweep 4 games from ku, sending Allen’s record in the series to 0-8 since re-taking over ku. MU had now won 21 of the last 25 contests between the two teams. MU again matched its 17 conference win number in running away with the Mo Valley title and remained unbeaten again until the season’s final game. 3 out of the 5 members of the First Team All conference were Tigers and George Williams was named the National Player of the Year (the only Tiger ever named as such). His 17.2 ppg avg would stand as the MU record until 1954, and on the season MU’s opponents totaled 335 points and Williams himself scored 311. MU was considered the National Champion for the first time in program history by the Premo-Porretta Polls.
1922
For the first time in 15 years, only two games would be scheduled between the two teams (which would become the norm going forward). This would be key as the matchup and the outcomes took on huge proportions with both MU and ku fielding extremely strong teams. MU was the favorite as the two time defending Mo Valley champs while ku had not won the conference in 7 years. Both teams were undefeated when they first met in Lawrence. MU would lead the entire game on the way to a 35-25 victory. The all time series which was once 30-4 in favor of ku has now been closed to 34-25. MU was still undefeated when ku came to Columbia. Despite jayhawk starting forward Woestermeyer being declared academically ineligible prior to the game, Phog Allen sent him out for warm-ups and listed him as a starter in the lineup card. He did not play, but perhaps the trickery paid off as ku was able to claim a 26-16 upset. Both teams would finish the season in a tie at 15-1 in the Valley. MU would finish 17-1 overall and ku 16-2, with the margin of defeat in the two head to head contests being an equal 10 points. In an effort to break the tie, MU challenged ku to a playoff at a neutral site. ku declined the challenge using what the KC Star called an ‘alibi’ saying the season was long enough and they wanted to play no more games. ku was retroactively declared Helms National champions years later for which they still hang a National Champion banner to this day, whereas MU finished 1st in the season’s ending Premo-Porretta poll in the only instance of a future Big 8 school being declared back to back Premo-Porretta National Champs.
1923
Both teams remained formidable the next year, again going into the match up undefeated. ku travels to Columbia involved a broken down train, a broken down truck, and finally a several mile walk into town. The pre-game was notable for Phog Allen convincing his star Tusten Ackerman that he could avenge his childhood idol Tommy Johnson’s death (who died from a kidney ailment after a blow during a MU/ku football game years earlier) by leading ku to victory. A defensive struggle ensued that saw the teams deadlocked at 6-6 at halftime, and after taking a 16-10 lead MU gave up a run and lost 21-19. The rematch in Lawrence saw ku with a record of 15-0 and MU at 14-1, with ku playing for the chance at the first undefeated conference record since the Mo Valley began. A record breaking 3,000 people attended and saw the Jayhawks take a 20-11 lead. Despite a late run ku would hold on 23-20 to claim their first series win since 1915. With the two losses factored in MU finished 3rd in the national Premo-Porretta rankings, their lowest finish since 1919. ku was retroactively declared the Helms National Champions and finished one spot ahead of MU in second nationally in the Premo-Porretta rankings.
1924-27
ku wins every game in the series and wins the Mo Valley each year as well.
1928
In the final year for both schools in the Mo Valley, MU would return to winning against ku by sweeping both games of the season series. MU would finish second in their last year in the valley, though well behind 18-0 Oklahoma.
1929
Neither MU nor ku were remaining members of the Mo Valley, as this was the first year of the newly formed Big 6 conference. In the inaugural season MU won both contests in the series and finished in second place again behind undefeated Oklahoma, while ku brought up the rear after suffering through a 3-15 season. For the first time in series history the two teams faced off in a non-conference game that was played on Dec 23rd in Kansas City’s Convention Hall prior to the start of conference play. Tiger and Kansas Citian Harry Welsh made 10 field goals in a 38-31 MU victory. This gave MU a 3rd victory over ku on the year.
1930
The season was marked by the Tiger’s move from home games at Rothwell Gymnasium into a brand new Field House. The structure cost $225,000, a hefty price tag in those days, and quadrupled the seating capacity for MU home games. But before the two programs could break the new building in, an exhibition just prior to Christmas was scheduled in Kansas City. In one of the lowest combined scores in MU history the Tigers fell 17-12. For the first conference matchup between the clubs, MU came into the game at 5-2 and ku was 6-0 and still undefeated on the season. A jayhawk win would assure them at least a tie for the Big 6 title. To bring further importance to the game, Missouri chose the occasion to dedicate and name the new field house as Brewer Field House and the entertainment was complete with halftime wall scaling, tumbling, and dancing for the 4,000 in attendance. 6’6 Charlie Huhn of the Tigers would score 14 to lead MU to a 29-18 victory that resulted in a 1 game gap between the programs in the standings. The final matchup was also the final game of the season for both teams. They were tied atop the standings at 7-2 with the conference title going to the winner. It would be the Tigers first game at the new Hoch Auditorium. The auditorium was to hold a capacity of 3,000 but 4,200 attended, 500 more than had ever before seen a game in Lawrence. MU took a 20-9 halftime lead and then coasted to a 23-18 victory. Ku fails to score 20 points in any of the three contests, making it the only instance in series history a team failed to top the 20 point mark in any games. The win resulted in Missouri’s first Big 6 crown. They would finish 15-3 overall and place 10th in the national Premo-Porretta polls at season’s end.
1932
MU's John Cooper is credited with being the college game's first jump shooter and leads the conference in scoring. Using his 5’11 frame he could put both hands inside the basket with his superior leaping ability, and when facing a bigger opponent he would hold the ball in the paint spinning and faking until he got the defender out of position. Thanks to Cooper MU would claim a 26-22 win in Columbia. Persistent whiner Phog Allen successfully petitioned the conference to adopt a 3 second rule in the paint to limit his effectiveness following the season.
1935
The series would switch back to a 4 game set with two at home and two away for one season. In odd conference scheduling ISU and NU would play each conference team twice while MU, ku, KSU, and OU would play each other 4 times each. That meant 10 conference games for the former group and 16 for the latter group. Kansas would win both in Lawrence. MU would close the year against conference leading ku in a pair of games, where wins for ku would secure their 5th straight league title. ku's Ray Ebling was the league's leading scorer, but was held to a total of 2 total points combined in the contests and MU swept ku to give ISU their first league crown.
1936
MU suffered through one of their worst seasons ever, with their leading scorer on the year Evans Powell avging only 5.1 ppg. ku would sweep the two game series. In the 29-25 loss in Columbia the band played ‘Three Blind Mice’ when officials made bad calls and Phog Allen complained formally to the conference when MU fans chant a modified version “Rock Chalk Dead Hawk” throughout the entire contest.
1939
One year after the NIT ushered in the era of national tournaments, the NCAA tournament first came into being during this season as an 8 team field (although it was officially called the National Association of Basketball Coaches Tournament the first year). Needing a win in the season’s final game for a conference title facing the defending conference champ jayhawks, a then record crowd of 5,000+ crammed into Brewer to witness MU rush out to a 29-11 halftime lead over ku and cruise to a 54-30 win and a Big 6 title. (At one point ku played with only 4 men when Phog Allen’s son Bob fouled out and his dad didn’t notice enough to replace him) In doing so the Tigers qualified for the 8 team field in the first NCAA tournament, but declined the invitation due to travel costs. OU represented the conference instead, and in what took on historical significance in hindsight defeated Utah State easily in the opening round to become the conference’s first “Final Four” participant.
1940
MU would celebrate its 100th year of existance, and the football team would play in the New Year’s Day Orange Bowl. As such two MU stars (Blaine Currence and Clay Cooper who also played football) were not available until after the season had started. When the defending conference champion Tigers hosted ku in Columbia the game was seen by 5,500 thanks to new additional bleachers installed in Brewer that expanded capacity. MU won 42-31 and took a 3-0 early conference leading record. In the second contest MU would need another win to secure the conference championship. In a precursor to Norm Stewart’s tradition, MU stayed at the Hotel President in Kansas City, MO before the contest to avoid supporting the Kansas economy. Once in Lawrence MU was greeted by 4,300 ku fans and a jayhawk team that needed a victory for a shot at the conference crown themselves. MU took a 25-24 lead into halftime, and with 5 minutes to play the score was deadlocked at 40-40. At that point ku made 1 of 2 free throws to take a 41-40 lead and Phog Allen took advantage of an experimental rule put in play that season in college basketball. Not only did ku not attempt to shoot, but if fouled they could elect to take foul shots or just take the ball out of bounds. Each time MU attempted to foul to regain possession of the basketball, ku elected to retain possession and take the ball out of bounds which resulted in a narrow ku 1 point victory. MU, ku, and OU would all finish at 8-2 to split the conference title. This time MU saw fit to attempt to continue their season and a tournament was set up to decide who would earn the Big 6’s bid. Unfortunately MU lost to OU who then lost to ku, and Kansas represented the conference. After dispatching Rice in the opening round, the jayhawks hit a shot with 16 seconds remaining to lift themselves to a 43-42 win over USC and into the conference’s first national title game where they were blown out by Indiana. The tournament was the first to be held in KC’s Municipal Auditorium thus the implications of losing the final game to ku on Allen's 5 minute stall tactic and sole possession of the conference crown was magnified as MU would have been playing at home in an 8 team field in the NCAA tournament.
1943
In Lawrence, jayhawk All American Charlie Black would score 33 points in an easy 69-44 ku win to open conference play for both teams. However Black was unavailable in the rematch due to pneumonia. MU took an early second half lead of 36-29 but ku managed to tie it at the end of regulation at 43-43. From there ku scored the only field goals of the extra period and won 47-44 in overtime en route to their fourth straight conference title.
1944
With the country embattled in war, fielding a team became one of the largest challenges of the 1944 season. While ku was the host to a naval training unit and thus drew from a deep pool of non-civilians, MU had to make due with those either unfit to serve or those deferred from service. MU’s star would be 17 year old Dan Pippen who was too young for military service. The teams would face off first in the championship game of a 4 team tourney held in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Although MU took an 18-7 lead, they ultimately lost 34-27. The two schools would open conference play against each other in Columbia and after a tied game of 14-14 at halftime MU stunned ku with a 35-28 victory. However the rematch in Lawrence was much less favorable as ku won easily 40-27. MU would finish in 3rd place, but in a key distinction was first among non-military teams. ISU was granted the bid to the NCAA tournament as conference champs, but declined out of fear they wouldn’t be able to keep their team together. The same situation was presented to second place OU and the same determination was made. With MU next in line speculation arose that the Tigers would get their first invitation until ISU reconsidered at the last minute to take the Big 6 bid. However 10 days after the regular season ended the University of Iowa withdrew and with its proximity to KC where the tournament would be held MU was extended their first ever NCAA tourney invite by default. MU would face Utah and would lose 35-25 but by merely participating earned the program’s first Elite Eight. Utah would go on to win the NCAA title and became the only team ever to win a title starting 5 freshman. MU played Pepperdine in the regional consolation game and coasted to a 61-46 victory, the program’s first NCAA tournament win.
1947
In the first matchup between Phog Allen and new Tiger coach Sparky Stalcup, Allen would rush across the court during play, after Pleasant Smith collided with ku All American Charlie Black chasing a loose ball, and shove Stalcup as he argued with a referee. Stalcup would raise his fist and shout, “Get the hell back on your side of the court,” before being restrained. MU would go on to claim their first win in Lawrence in 17 years 39-34 thanks to 17 points by Dan Pippen. The rematch in Columbia featured one of the odder matchups in series history as a flu outbreak on campus resulted in only reporters and radio announcers allowed inside the gymnasium to watch the teams play in front of an empty house. In addition Phog Allen wasn’t even present to coach ku as he had suffered a concussion in practice. MU’s entire starting 5 would foul out and ku’s Bill Sapp would throw a non-connecting punch as ku took a 48-38 win.
1952
The two teams would meet in the championship game of the Big 7 tournament. Tiger freshman Win Wilfong would score a team high 17 but after falling to the floor attempting to grab a rebound in the final three minutes would be stomped on by ku All American Clyde Lovellette, who was ejected. A near brawl erupted and although the players were eventually calmed the booing from the crowd lasted past the end of the game, which ku won 75-65. Unable to get the incited crowd to leave the PA announcer proclaimed, “I hope everyone remembers where you are, this is America not Russia.” Finally Sparky Stalcup took the microphone. “MU enjoys this rivaly with ku and Doc Allen is a great coach,” he lied. He then sent his players over to the ku bench and MU began shaking hands, with Wilfong even hugging Lovellette. The irate crowd subdued. ku would come to Columbia sporting a 11-0 record later in the season, with an important recruit on an official visit to Columbia. A young Norm Stewart was in attendance at the game along with 5,800 Tiger fans and was attempting to decide between offers to play at either ku or MU (The Indiana head coach Branch McCracken would advise him to attend MU and he thus became a Tiger) ku would take a 14 point halftime lead only to see MU charge back and lead 59-58 with under three to play on a shot from the corner by Wilfong. As MU attempted to run out the clock they were whistled for a traveling violation and ku converted with thirty seconds left to win 60-59. After the game, upset about a supposed timekeeping error Phog Allen erupts berating anyone in listening distance with ‘unprintable remarks’ according to the KC Star, leading MU AD Don Faurot to confront him and state, “Now get out of here Doc, you are causing enough trouble” and grab him by the arm and escort him off the court. The 1 point victory was hugely important in ku history, as the jayhawks would outpace KSU by 1 win in the conference race and in winning the Big 7 received a bid to the NCAA tournament. ku then won their only NCAA title not directly linked to probation in program history. Had that travel not been called, ku would still be searching for their first legit National Championship.
1954
MU would face ku in the season finale sporting a 10-10 overall record, attempting to avoid a losing season against the 13th ranked jayhawks. Notably it was Norm Stewart’s first contest against ku in Columbia. Bob Reiter would score 28 for MU and Norm would add 22 of his own as MU upset ku 76-67. The jayhawk loss forced them into a tie with Colorado for the league title, and CU was selected as the conference’s NCAA Tournament representative even though they were 11-11 and ku was 16-5 ending the jayhawks season.
1955: In their last matchup at Hoch Auditorium MU claims a 76-65 win to move to #6 in the AP Polls, their highest ranking ever at that point. The Tigers complete the season sweep with a 19 point victory in Columbia.
1955
The season marked the last for ku’s Hoch Auditorium, and the two teams opened conference play facing off for the last time in that building. ku had not lost in 33 straight games there, and MU had not won there since 1948. MU came in winners of the Big 7 Holiday tournament and with victories over Arkansas, Illinois, at Indiana, and over #4 Iowa. On the strength of a huge game by Bob Reiter of 21 points and 24 rebounds MU closed down Hoch Auditorium in fitting fashion with a 76-65 win. MU would move to #6 in the AP Polls, their highest ranking ever at that point. In Columbia MU would complete the season sweep with a 90-71 victory, becoming the first team in the series history to top the 90 point mark in a game. Med Park scored a career high 27 for MU. Approached after the game by journalists for the Savitar for a comment, Phog Allen replied, “Get the hell out of here.”
1956
It was Phog Allen's final season, and it was the senior year at MU for Norm Stewart. The Tigers would open league play against the jayhawks and beat them soundly 76-54. Then in the only ever meeting between the Tigers and Phog Allen in the arena that bears his name MU completed the season sweep and became the first team to claim a victory in the new Allen Field House. MU jumped out to an early 28-9 lead on their way to an 85-78 win. The win made Phog Allen loser of his last five career regular season contests with MU, and gave Norm Stewart a regular season playing record of 5-1 against the jayhawks.
1957
ku had improperly won a title in 1952 after buying Clyde Lovelette out of his Indiana commitment, but never before had they been so bold in purchasing players as they were with revolutionary talent Wilt Chamberlain. Their investment paid off, particularly since they didn’t receive probation until after Wilt left ku to play for the Globetrotters. Sparky Stalcup at MU was taking the polar opposite stance and as described in “True Sons” was ethical to a fault and a bit naive to the way the game and recruiting was changing. He stated, “a school like Missouri will not relax its educational requirements for the sake of getting an exceptional athlete. The era of the dumb athlete is fast drawing to a close.” Stalcup falsely put his faith in the NCAA. Chamberlain had recorded a 52 point 31 rebound game in his varsity debut, and MU took a minor victory in holding him to only 23 in a 92-79 loss in Lawrence. They were not so fortunate when the two programs squared off in Columbia. Chamberlain would set the record for the most points ever scored by an opponent at Brewer Field House with 32 while adding 20 rebounds and 5 blocks despite sitting out the last 7 minutes of a 91-58 blowout. Chamberlain and ku would advance to the national title game before losing in triple overtime 54-53.
1961
In 1961, a rivalry that was filled with consistent animosity boiled over into hatred of a different level. That fall, MU fielded the best football team in the nation. But their national championship as well as their undefeated season was thwarted on the season’s last game via ku using an ineligible player to defeat them. ku forfeited the game for cheating but that did nothing for MU’s national title hopes. Additionally, although they would celebrate such concepts 30 years later with Roy Williams, ku fans were outraged in that they felt it was MU’s coaching staff that had turned ku in to the NCAA. ku fans were further upset because the NCAA had deemed the salary and luxury automobile provided to Wilt Chamberlain in exchange for him having to represent Kansas was excessive and outside the scope of amateurism. So ku’s basketball team was back on probation and ineligible for postseason play. With that backdrop the two teams first met in Lawrence, and in typical classlessness displayed by ku fans the national anthem had to be halted and eventually abandoned when they couldn’t get the angry mob of ku fans under control. ku would win 88-73 for their 10th straight victory in the series. The two teams would face again in Columbia late in the year, and not only were ku’s hopes at securing a Big 8 title on the line but also the league individual scoring title was up for grabs. The prior year ku star Wayne Hightower and Tiger Charlie Henke had finished first and second in the Big 8 in scoring, and going into the season’s last contest they were again neck and neck at the top. The game was nationally televised and legendary announcer Jack Buck was to call the game. Henke at that point was both MU’s all time leading scorer and rebounder and his 24.6 ppg avg for the season is still MU’s second highest ever. Henke came out firing and completely frustrated the helpless jayhawks. He would score 20 points in the first half on 9 of 12 shooting, but just before the half in a preview of what was to come Joe Scott was charged with a technical for roughing. That meant the second half began with ku shooting free throws and that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Just under 5 minutes into the second half, Henke fouled Hightower on a shot attempt. The ku center whirled around and started wildly throwing punches. Suddenly the benches emptied and then the stands did as well as for nearly 3 minutes a national audience was witness to the bad blood in epic proportions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AldG_kiNZ9Q
When the chaos ended, both Hightower and Henke were ejected (meaning MU’s all time leadings scorer and rebounder was ejected from senior day in his final MU game, although he did win the conference scoring title as well as be named an All American). MU would go on to win the game 79-76 for their first victory in the series since 1956 as well as end ku’s chance to catch KSU in the conference race. Both athletic directors would meet after the game to discuss the possibility of ending the series as well as any athletic relationships. MU AD Don Faurot stated, “If any bitterness exists it has been brought about by the people of Kansas. The responsibility for the brawl rests with Hightower for throwing the first punch and the ku bench for rushing into the fray.” Ultimately though MU relinquished and allowed ku to continue the series.
1962
MU defeats the jayhawks 79-66 in Columbia in Tiger coach Sparky Stalcup’s last season. The victory means Stalcup won in his first trip to Lawrence, his last trip to Hoch Auditorium, his first game in Allen Field House, and his last contest with ku. But neither program had much to cheer about, as they both finished tied for last in the Big 8 at 3-11 and with matching 9-16 records overall.
1963
Bob Vanetta’s first contest with ku as the MU head coach ends with a 62-56 Tiger victory. But again both programs are at the bottom of the league standings with matching 5-9 conference records.
1964
The season would be Dick Harp’s last as the ku head coach. The teams would face three times including the conference tourney and MU would claim 3 victories against ku for the season sweep, making MU winners of 5 of the last 6 meetings.
1966
The two teams would face each other for the first time with either being ranked since the 1957 season as ku would be AP #7. The jayhawks would win both season matchups, the first by 44 and the second by 23, as the Tigers suffered through their worst season. They lost 13 of 14 conference games and went 3-21 overall. So depleted were the Tigers that 6’ guard Charlie Rudd jumped center for them and led the team in rebounds for the season.
1968
Fresh off back to back 3 win seasons, MU entered a new era with first year coach and former player Norm Stewart at the helm. His first trip to Lawrence would be a memorable one. In front of 11,000 ku fans the Tigers would close a 10 point deficit in the final 5 minutes to tie the game at 65. The jayhawks would hold for the final shot and on the attempt with two seconds remaining MU was whistled for a foul sending ku to the line. The jayhawks converted one of two for a 66-65 lead and only two seconds left. MU took the ball out under the basket, fired a pass to half court, and was fouled by ku attempting to steal the ball resulting in a one and one attempt. Tom Johnson calmly stepped to the line for the Tigers with all the other players watching from the benches and with no time remaining knocked down both shots for a 67-66 MU win. Johnson, who finished with a game high 23, was carried off the court at Allen Field House on his teammates shoulders and Norm collected his first victory over ku as a head coach in his first trip to Lawrence.
1969
MU would host 5th ranked ku in Columbia coming off 3 straight losses on their schedule. Trailing the jayhawks 46-45 with three minutes to play in the game, Norm Stewart elected to hold the ball for a last shot. MU literally stands with the ball at midcourt until 15 seconds remain and then sets in motion a play resulting in a made 20 footer by Theo Franks that gave the Tigers a 47-46 victory. In the rematch in Lawrence against the now #12 jayhawks, Stewart would send Captain Don Tomlinson during the pregame warm-ups to meet with ku coach Ted Owens and demand the ku end of the floor with Stewart listening and laughing beneath the bleachers. MU would win again 56-55 for the season sweep.
1971
The final game of the season would pit the familiar rivals against each other, and it was notably also believed to be the last game to be played at Brewer Field House as MU would be moving into a new arena the next year. ku came into the game ranked #4 and sported a 23-1 record, whereas MU was attempting to wrap up sole possession of second place and the NIT bid that would accompany it. 75 former Tiger letterman and 6,000 standing room only Tiger fans were on hand to witness the contest. MU built a 37-28 halftime lead, but despite never trailing in the second half MU went the final 2:47 without scoring and allowed ku to tie it up and send the game into overtime. A back and forth overtime period resulted in a 1 point margin with 46 seconds left when MU was called for an intentional foul. Despite missing both shots, ku retained the ball and then converted both ends of a one and one with 46 seconds remaining to make the score 70-67. MU had 4 attempts at the basket in the final 45 seconds but missed all 4 attempts and the jayhawks escaped with a two point overtime win. “We gave it a great shot,” said Norm Stewart afterward. “Our kids wanted to win real badly, had it won and didn’t.”
1972
The completion of the new arena for MU was delayed, so the Tigers would undertake another season at Brewer. In what would actually be the final match up between the two programs in Brewer, the 15th ranked Tigers would collect a 64-60 win against the jayhawks. When the teams met in Lawrence, MU was now ranked 14th but a certain jayhawk was about to put on a one man show. Bud Stallworth was playing his final game in Lawrence, and even though a win would only mean a tie for 4th place in conference the eventual #7 overall pick in the NBA draft a few months later said beating MU was foremost on his mind. “I don’t care who wins the championship”, he stated, “We just came out to beat Missouri.” Stallworth had 27 points at half, but MU took a 43-41 halftime lead. Stallworth was not finished. Despite play having to be halted twice in the second half due to typical ku fan classlessness of throwing debris on the court, Stallworth finished the game with 50 points in a 93-80 ku victory. The 50 point total was the highest ever in a Big 8 conference game, and is still the largest individual scoring output in series history. “It’s easy to diagnose,” said Norm Stewart after the game. “We just played terrible defense , as poor as we’ve played all year.” MU would finish in 2nd place for the second year in a row in the Big 8.
1973
The first season in Hearnes was also John Brown's senior season. Brown would conclude his career as MU’s all time leading scorer and rebounder and be the 10th overall pick in the NBA draft. His Tiger’s had climbed to #5 in the polls but were coming off a loss to Colorado when they faced ku for the first time. It was his frontcourt mate Al Eberhard (a future first round NBA draft pick himself) that would lead the Tigers with 27 as MU defeated the jayhawks 75-72. The rematch in Lawrence saw #13 MU trailing by 18 in the second half. However, as ku fans pelted the MU bench with paper cups during the comeback MU roared back and claimed a 73-69 win to sweep the series. Brown and Eberhard combined for 49 points and 37 rebounds. As he ran off the court an elated Norm Stewart hollered at the hostile crowd, “The worst fans in America!” repeatedly as he returned to the victor's locker room. The win allowed MU to secure their third straight second place conference finish, while ku had its second straight year of being in the bottom half of the conference.
1976
The Tigers and jayhawks would match up first at Kemper Arena in the conference holiday tournament, the first such meeting between the two teams since 1951. Willie Smith and Jim Kennedy would combine for 49 points in a 79-69 Tiger victory that gave MU its 4th tournament title in 5 years. MU would then open conference play against the jayhawks and the game would not be nearly as close, a 99-69 MU rout. In the next meeting, this time in Lawrence with MU ranked #14, Willie Smith would rebound a miss and tip it in at the buzzer for a 61-60 Tiger win to complete a three game sweep. The wins were pivotal in that they gave MU a one game margin over second place KSU and their first conference regular season title outright since 1930.
1977
The conference holiday tournament would again pit MU vs ku in the championship game. MU would win their 5th title in 6 years with a 69-65 victory. The game in Lawence featured the explosive fireworks the series has become to be known for. MU took a 41-35 halftime lead, but with 13:38 left in the first half Tiger All Conference forward Jim Kennedy and jayhawk reserve Donnie Von Moore began trading punches under the MU goal after ku’s Herb Nobles threw an elbow at Kennedy. Both benches emptied and the fight continued in the corner of the arena. When order was restored, both players were ejected. Without Kennedy, the Tigers would go the final 6 minutes of the game only scoring 1 point and ku would come back to take a 77-72 victory. Norm Stewart, who was also shoved by a ku fan while still on the court after the game, said he and his team were verbally threatened on the way to the locker room. “There is no place in basketball for conduct of coaches, players, and fans like there was today and I’m talking about Kansas University. I was very disappointed at the words spoken to me by the ku head coach,” he said in the postgame. ku coach Ted Owens only responded, “That’s how you coach basketball.” MU would also defeat ku 87-79 in Columbia to secure second place in the Big 8, marking the 6th time in the last 7 contests MU was victorious.
1979
Curtis Berry records the last 20 point/20 rebound game in MU history in a 58-55 win over ku that ties Norm Stewart for the all time lead in wins at MU.
1980-83
Steve Stipanovich and Jon Sundvold go 6-2 vs conference also ran ku in the regular season on the way to an unprecedented 4 straight league titles.
1987
In the first year of the 3 point shot in the Big 8, freshman Lee Coward hits a buzzer beater from long range to give MU a 63-60 victory over ku. After going on to win the league title, they again met ku in the conference title game. Coward would again hit a buzzer beater to give MU the conference tourney title as well.
1988
After finishing 3rd and 4th in the Big 8 respectively, both programs receive a 6 seed in the NCAA tourney. MU was ranked as high as 15th until March, whereas ku had been completely unranked since January. ku capitalizes on their bracket falling apart to reach the Final Four and playing in KC, where they win one of the most improbable NCAA titles in history (before immediately going on probation and receiving a postseason ban).
1989
In their first meeting with new head coach Roy Williams, MU hands ku their worst ever loss in Allen Field house in a 91-66 beating. ku is the ineligible for the postseason, still the only defending NCAA champion ever to be.
1990
ku would come to Columbia as the nation’s #1 ranked team and undefeated, while MU was #4 with only one loss. After collecting a 95-87 win, MU supplanted ku and took over the #1 ranking. The rematch in Lawrence pitted at this point #1 ku vs #2 MU, the only time in the history of the matchup the teams met with the top two spots in the polls. MU would win again to reclaim the #1 ranking and send Roy Williams record to 0-4 vs MU.
1992
Against #3 ranked ku, Anthony Peeler puts on a one man show. Leading all scorers with 24 with just less than 8 minutes remaining, Peeler scored 19 more down the stretch to finish with 43. But after cutting the lead to 2 with less than a minute to play a questionable foul on Peeler resulted in the Tigers falling short and losing 97-89.
1994
MU defeats #3 ku in Columbia, and then in the rematch in Lawrence on the strength of 32 from Melvin Booker MU again defeats #4 ku to propel themselves into an undefeated conference season, just the third time in Big 8 history it had been accomplished.
1996
MU defeats #3 ku to give the jayhawks one of their only three losses in the regular season.
1997
ku brings their best team of all time into Columbia with a #1 ranking. They would leave with a double overtime loss after Corey Tate hit a buzzer beater to give MU a 96-94 win. It was the only regular season loss ku would suffer on the year, while MU would fail to qualify for any postseason with a below .500 record on the season.
1998
Norm’s Tigers again knock off a #3 ranked ku team despite fielding a team that only won 15 regular season games. It is the third straight loss in Columbia for Roy Williams.
1999
After classless Ryan Robertson taunted MU fans when he finally won a game in Columbia for the first time, Norm instructs his players after they win in Lawrence to “walk off the court like you’ve been there before.” No small feat since MU was the last conference opponent to win in Lawrence back in 1994 and since the formation of the Big 12 ku had only lost 4 conference games (three of which were to MU). After wrapping up a 71-63 victory in what would be Norm's last season, MU calmly walked off the court in front of a silenced jayhawk crowd and went on to finish second on the year in conference. It would be the final time Norm would face ku.
2000
Against #7 ku Clarence Gilbert explodes for 27 points before they are able to injure him, leading MU to an 81-59 crushing of the jayhawks. "I think we broke their hearts," Missouri forward Johnnie Parker said afterward. "I was talking to a couple of their guys after the game and they were really down, and I've really never seen Kansas that way."
2001
On a day when Norm Stewart had his jersey retired, #3 ku falls 75-66 to unranked MU. "The frustrating thing is I don't think they had their A game, and I think Quin would say the same thing," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "But whatever letter grade you give their game, it was five or six times better than ours." Kareem Rush had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers.
2002
After trailing by only 1 point at halftime in Lawrence, the Tigers get blown out 105-73. In the rematch in Columbia ku entered the game ranked #1, but with the Tigers leading with less than 2 min to play Nick Collision hit an uncharacteristic 3 pointer and the jayhawks hung on for a 95-92 win.
2003
After losing due to back to back slop baskets on the final possessions in Columbia by Miles and Hienrich, MU faces #4 ku in the conference tournament and dispatches them 68-63 to advance to the conference finals. “We’re going to be disappointed. I'm gonna be ****ed off. If that language bothers you, I apologize. My wife doesn’t like for me to say that, “ said Roy Williams after the game.
2004
In his last home game and the final game played at Hearnes, Arthur Johnson scores 37 points but his effort is spoiled as freshman David Padgent rifles the ball into the front of the rim at the buzzer and was the recipient of a fortunate bounce. ku won 84-82 and sent MU to the NIT.
2005
In the first ever meeting in Mizzou Arena, #7 ku loses to 15-15 overall MU 72-68.
2006: Thomas Gardner erupts for 40 points and Christian Moody miss two free throws with no time remaining to send the game to overtime, a game MU eventually wins 89-86.
2007
In the first matchup with Mike Anderson, MU travels to #5 ranked ku in Lawrence. MU trailed 78-77 with 44 second remaining, but a basket by Sherron Collins put the margin at 3 and a Matt Lawrence 3 point attempt at the buzzer failed to draw iron. Ineligible player Darell Arthur scored 9 in the contest for ku.
2008
ku entered the game in Columbia with a nation’s best 25 point margin of victory, but would lead only by as much as 8 in a game that came down to the final minute. Leo Lyons would foul out in only 13 min of play due to questionable officiating, and ku would hold off the Tigers 76-70 on the strength of 23 combined points from ineligible players Darell Arthur and Brandon Rush and a 45 to 22 disparity in free throw attempts.
2009
Despite only scoring 16 points in the first half and a shooting a season low 36% from the field, MU was able to force 27 turnovers and hold ku to only 1 basket the final 8 minutes. Zaire Taylor converted at the buzzer to give MU a 62-60 win.
2011
#2 ranked ku leverages its home court advantage to foul out both Tiger big men who were shooting 81.3% from the field against ku’s overmatched bigs into a second half victory. The Tigers were unable to rise to the occasion in the rematch, shooting a season worst 29% from the field and 13% behind the arc, and fell by 4 points to #2 ku.
2012
In the final matchup in series history to be played in Columbia, #4 MU squares off against #8 ku with Marcus Denmon putting on a show resulting in 29 points and a 74-71 win. It was the first game of the season the Tigers won by less than 11 points. The rematch in Lawrence pitted the #3 Tigers vs the #4 ranked jayhawks, with MU outclassing ku to a large 19 point second half lead before officiating and attrition allowed the jayhawks to close the margin. As the closing seconds waned, the implausible turned to the absurd regarding officiating and ku was able to send the game into overtime and complete the travesty towards the integrity of the game with an 87-86 victory. Norm’s old adage of needing to be at least 15 points better than ku on a given day to win in Lawrence proved to be untrue, as on this occasion the Tigers were 19 points better and it still was not enough.
And that is where things should have ended. The coach who never got over MU selecting a better candidate instead of him to replace Norm had to watch as the SEC also selected a better candidate than his program to improve their conference and he became bitterly jilted at being left behind in the crumbling remains of the Big 12 with no options. He vowed to never play MU again out of spite, and held steadfast in that emotional immaturity as he continued to schedule and face all of the other members of the Big 12 conference that left for superior options. But despite nothing seeming to bother him more, other than the loss of his hair, to raise money for hurricane relief the two programs will again face off in an NCAA approved exhibition at the Sprint Center prior to this season.
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Repost: Recapping the MU vs ku historical rivalry - FIJItiger MU - 10/13 15:16:24