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Missouri Basketball Not Looking Ahead to December Matchup with No. 1 Kansas

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Missouri Basketball Not Looking Ahead to December Matchup with No. 1 Kansas


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Missouri basketball has a long and storied rivalry with the Kansas Jayhawks, dating back to March 11, 1907.

Known as the “Border War,” the rivalry has seen intense matchups over the years, with Kansas holding the upper hand in the series, winning 175 of the 270 games played.

Missouri, however, has claimed 95 victories, some of which are etched in Tigers lore.

One memorable moment for Missouri came in February 2012, when the Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the country, staged an epic comeback against No. 8 Kansas.

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Down by eight points with under three minutes to play, Missouri roared back to win 74-71, led by Marcus Denmon’s 29-point performance.

The victory not only energized the program but also added another chapter to the fierce rivalry.

As the Tigers prepare for the 2024-25 season, they are set to face the Jayhawks for the fourth consecutive year after an eight year absence, a game circled on many fans’ calendars.

However, the players are keeping their focus on the present, refusing to get caught up in the hype of facing the No. 1 team in the country.

For Duke transfer forward Mark Mitchell, the Kansas matchup is exciting, but it’s nothing he or the program hasn’t seen before.

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“Yeah, obviously it’s cool, you know, getting to play the top teams, top school in the country,” Mitchell said at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. “I don’t think it’s anything new to me, or new to the program. I think we’re a winning program, and I think we can beat anyone on our schedule, but also be beat by anyone on our schedule. When that time comes, it’s gonna be a great atmosphere, a great place, and I’m just really excited to enjoy that moment.”

While the anticipation builds for the annual showdown, Iowa transfer guard Tony Perkins isn’t even thinking about Kansas yet.

For him, the focus is on getting the Tigers ready for the grind of the season and ensuring the team is prepared for every challenge.

“To be truthful with you, we haven’t really even thought about games that far away,” Perkins said. “We’ve mostly just been trying to figure out how we feel, get these days stacked, and just keep going and keep working until that first game comes. When the time comes, we’ll worry about Kansas or whoever, but right now, it’s about getting our team right.”

With the Border War set to reignite in December, Missouri fans are eager for their new-look Tigers to take on the top-ranked Jayhawks.

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For now, Dennis Gates’ squad is simply focused on building team chemistry and taking one game at a time as they prepare for a new season.



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2025 NFL Draft scouting report: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

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2025 NFL Draft scouting report: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas


Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4) hits Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Cutback Ability 

The first thing you see when you watch Devin Neal is his ability to make decisive decisions as a runner. It allows him to see and find running lanes as they develop or while they are. It is also showcased when he breaks into the second level and is tasked with making a defender miss. 

Speed 

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Neal can finish runs when in space, break off long runs, and find the endzone when given the chance. He shows whenever he is given the chance to be a receiver and already has momentum built up. With any touch of the ball he has, he can go to the endzone with his speed. 

Receiving Ability

Neal has some drops on his film, he isn’t perfect, but he gets open when tasked with running a route. He does a good job of moving without the ball in his hands, and it allows him to be in a position to be a reliable receiver. Once he gets the focus drops out of the way, he can really find some nice receiving work in the NFL if given the chance.



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Kansas State Fans Unload On Jerome Tang After Wichita State Loss

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Kansas State Fans Unload On Jerome Tang After Wichita State Loss


Kansas State’s meltdown loss to the Stockers can be attributed to many on the team.

But it was coach Jerome Tang who was the center of the criticism Saturday night. This is the second time in the last three games where the Wildcats were outdone dramatically in the second half.

Kansas State stars Coleman Hawkins and David N’Guessan combined for just 15 points on 35 percent shooting. Meanwhile, David Castillo went 0 of 7 from 3-point range, contributing to a 28 percent shooting performance from the arc.

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On the other end, Wichita State’s Xavier Bell and Corey Washington combined for 42 points. The Shockers collectively got to the paint and free-throw line very often Saturday.

“I saw this live,” one user said. “Competitive for 30 minutes, the Cats freaked out being down by 4 and couldn’t stop chucking threes and play horrible defense. Tang tries but this squad has no heart and grit. Soft. Fragile.”

Kansas State starts facing conference opponents next week, with their first Big 12 matchup against Cincinnati (9-1) Monday night. But honestly, most fans are ready to throw in the towel on the season already.

“I love this college with my whole heart,” another fan said. “Will always support the University but this is one of the worst starts to a season I have ever seen. This is not the standard we have built and something needs to change. The program should be embarrassed because the fans sure are.”

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Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.





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Chiefs Suffer Several Big Injuries Before Steelers Game

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Chiefs Suffer Several Big Injuries Before Steelers Game


The Pittsburgh Steelers have been pummeled with injuries over recent weeks. They aren’t alone in that predicament, however, as their Christmas Day opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs are currently dealing with their fair share of bumps and bruises.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf), wide receiver Xavier Worthy (ankle), offensive tackle Jawann Taylor (knee) and linebacker Jack Cochrane (ankle) all went down in Kansas City’s win over the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon, casting doubt on their collective statuses for Wednesday’s meeting with Pittsburgh in a short week.

Jones, widely regarded as one of the NFL’s elite defensive talents for the better part of a decade, sustained his injury in the fourth quarter. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid described it as a strain, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to go against the Steelers.

The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro has recorded five sacks on the season to go with 30 total tackles, nine of which have gone for losses, and a forced fumble.

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Worthy, who was selected with the No. 28 pick of the first round in the 2024 draft, posted a career-high six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown versus Houston. He departed with his injury in the second quarter before returning after halftime and remaining available from that point forward, meaning he’s likely good to go against the Steelers.

Reid also described Taylor’s injury as a strain after he was pulled in the third quarter of Saturday’s contest. The 27-year-old has held a spot on the Chiefs’ injury report since Week 13 with a knee issue, though he’s yet to miss a game both this season and throughout his entire six-year career.

Taylor occupies the right tackle spot and has made 15 starts this campaign. Kansas City’s depth has already been tested after left tackle D.J. Humphries was inactive versus Houston with a hamstring injury, leaving Wanya Morris and second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia as the team’s most likely options at the two spots if the former pair of players can’t work their way back onto the field in the coming days.

Cochrane fractured his ankle, per Reid, which may very well end his year. The special teams ace logged a total of 306 snaps, mustering five tackles over that stretch.

The Chiefs are now 14-1 and have a magic number of one to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, meaning another win or a single Buffalo Bills loss would do the job.

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Thus, Kansas City could adopt a safe approach by resting some of its guys and opting not to risk worsening the health of its players with such little down time before taking on the Steelers.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has seen its hold on the AFC North slip out of its hands following a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday that has both teams sitting with a 10-5 record.

Though the Steelers have clinched a postseason berth, they are currently on a two-game losing streak and would ideally avoid slipping any further.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) both suffered injuries against Baltimore while cornerback Donte Jackson (back), defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin), quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) all didn’t make an appearance with pre-existing wounds.

Pittsburgh needs to get off the schneid quickly, and the hope is that it can return several key pieces whom are currently on the mend for its bout with the reigning Super Bowl champions from KC.

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Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI to get all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!



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