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Why Missouri basketball needs to conquer the Border War’s psychological factor to have a chance

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Why Missouri basketball needs to conquer the Border War’s psychological factor to have a chance


Dennis Gates told the media he has some selective amnesia about what happened the first time he went against Kansas as Missouri’s head basketball coach.

That was Dec. 10, 2022, when the Jayhawks put a beating on the Tigers 95-67.

Missouri wasn’t ready to take on an elite team. MU gets another crack at one, and the rivalry, on Saturday.

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“The biggest thing that I can tell you is, when you look at two competitive traditions, you’re going to have this type of excitement moving into the games,” Gates said.

That rivalry needs some participation on Missouri’s side. The last two games MU and KU have played in 2021 and 2022 have seen the Jayhawks win by a combined score of 197-132.

It does start with the talent aspect of the rivalry: Kansas has All-American candidates in Hunter Dickinson and Dajuan Harris, as well as all-conference candidates in Kevin McCullar Jr. and KJ Adams.

But, the psychological aspect of the rivalry takes hold on the road. That’s where Missouri needs to show the most fortitude and improvement on Saturday if it hopes to have a chance at beating Kansas in one of the most hostile environments in college basketball.

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It’s not easygoing for anyone who plays Kansas in Kansas’s house.

Missouri has won 31 of its 121 games at the Allen Fieldhouse. That’s a 34 percent winning percentage spanning back to 1907. The Tigers were thoroughly shaken when they last visited The Phog in 2021.

According to former Tigers who have won in The Phog, it takes experience mixed with a calloused mind that focuses on winning.

“My first year going in there, you’re awestruck because this is what you’ve seen on TV,” Former MU player Lamont Frazier told the Tribune this week. “But after going through it, time and time, time and time again, and going through those situations, you knew it was historic. You knew there was going to be something probably great that was going to happen in there.”

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Frazier said the Tigers can’t go in and get caught up in everything that’s going on around them. He said the student body and fans get into the rivalry, but that just plays into the legacy-defining plays that happen on the court.

That certainly happened in 2021, when Christian Braun’s breakaway dunk nearly lifted the roof off the Allen Fieldhouse.

“Once you’re on the court, you sort of drown it out and play,” former Missouri guard Chip Walther said.

This Saturday, Missouri will have to face Kansas with a roster of players who have played in NCAA Tournaments, against other conference rivals and in other big games. However, only two MU players have previous experience playing at Kansas.

Caleb Grill played at Kansas while he was at Iowa State, and Kaleb Brown played at KU in 2021. Brown’s season-ending injury will keep him from playing Saturday. On Thursday, Nick Honor said Grill told the team a key to drowning out the Kansas crowd is to stay strong and persistent throughout the game.

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But, beyond Grill and Brown, past MU players and coaches who played at Kansas in the past have assisted this current Missouri roster in understanding why it’s difficult to play Kansas in Lawrence.

“Norm always talks about it,” Gates said Thursday. “Every coach has told me, ‘Hey, this is the game’ in terms of our fans and our tradition has circled, right? It’s the rivalry.”

That rivalry is one of college basketball’s oldest and most classic. This season’s roster of Missouri Tigers will be the latest to experience it.

A win would change many narratives about the Gates era. It would also be the first time Missouri has won at Kansas since 1999.

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In order to earn that win, Missouri will need to be confident in its skill as well as have the fortitude to foray into The Phog.

Doing so potentially means doing something few teams get to do.

“It’s an environment that if you could play 28 games in it, it would never get old,” Frazier said. “It was always something to look forward to because they hardly lost there. So, to go in there and just to even think that you could win a game at that place, you had to feel pretty good about yourself.”



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Missouri

Family of Missouri man allegedly killed by Memphis murder suspect speaks

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Family of Missouri man allegedly killed by Memphis murder suspect speaks


MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – U.S. Marshals and Memphis Police captured 18-year-old Demario Wilson two days ago and charged him with murder in the death of a Missouri father.

Authorities say the robbery turned shooting all happened over a gaming system, but the significant other of the man he’s accused of killing tells Action News 5, a different story.

Wilson is charged two counts of first degree murder and other robbery charges for the killing Homero Pena, Jr.

Pena came down to Memphis with someone he thought was a friend.

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His significant other tells Action News 5 she believes he was set up.

“I didn’t find out until later on that night what really happened to him,” said Kaitlyn Puga, Homero Pena’s significant other.

Kaitlyn Puga’s life hasn’t been the same since the father of her children was killed April 18th.

“He was really a good father,” said Puga. “The kids I guess they know that he’s gone now. That was everything to them.”

Kaitlyn and Homero Pena, Jr. had been dating since the fifth grade and share two daughters together with a third on the way.

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Memphis Police say 18-year-old Demario Wilson shot and killed Pena at Summit Arbors Circle near Covington Pike.

Puga says Pena and a friend drove from Kennett, Missouri to Memphis to exchange this car with Harris and others, but she urged him not to go.

“I believe that he told the dudes from Memphis, that Hermero took the car and basically took him down there, basically was a set up.”

U.S. Marshalls say a witness claims the shootout began over a gaming system but Puga doesn’t believe that and an affidavit from Memphis Police paints a different picture.

According to the affidavit, Harris shot Pena five times.

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Harris and two other people took car keys, a phone and cash from Pena after shooting him.

The affidavit also says the friend who was with Pena was also robbed of this phone and a Dodge Charger.

Police knew who Wilson was a witness identified him in a lineup, according to the affidavit.

He was arrested by the U.S. Marshall’s May 21st.

Wilson has an extensive criminal history. Police say he was arrested in November 2023 for a string of car thefts in East Memphis and running from police.

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Court records show that case was dismissed by Judge Bill Anderson.

Wilson was then charged for several vehicle burglaries that same month. Court records show he was indicted in March 2024, an arrest warrant was issued.

Wilson was charged May 21st for shooting up an apartment with a handgun with an extended magazine, that allegedly happened on May 14, after police took him into custody for Homero Pena’s murder.

Memphis Police tell Action News 5 there is an arrest warrant out for a second suspect.

Meanwhile Kaitlyn and Homero’s are hoping for more arrests and information for this case as they continue to grieve.

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Ribbon cutting celebrates opening of UFO Capital of Missouri Park

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Ribbon cutting celebrates opening of UFO Capital of Missouri Park


PIEDMONT, Mo. (KFVS) – A ribbon cutting on Thursday afternoon, May 23 celebrated the opening of the UFO Capital of Missouri Park.

According to a release from organizers, the first phase of the park is finished after nearly a year of planning.

A ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 23 celebrated the opening of the UFO Capital of Missouri Park in Piedmont, Mo.(KFVS)

In August 2023, the Missouri General Assembly passed SB139 designating Piedmont and Wayne County as the UFO Capitals of Missouri to mark the 50th anniversary of alleged unidentified flying object sightings in Piedmont.

The original bill sponsor Representative Chris Dinkins said the purpose of the designation was to increase tourism.

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Dinkins joined residents for the ribbon cutting on Thursday.

After seeing all of the tourists in the area for the 50th Anniversary UFO Festival, hosted by the Piedmont Area Chamber of Commerce in April 2023, the community joined together to add murals, UFO-themed events and make plans to continue with the annual UFO Festival and parade.

A committee of business owners and residents worked with the city of Piedmont to organize the park, which is located at 220 Legion Park Road.

It was funded by donations from area businesses and residents. The city donated the land where the park is located, provided labor for installation and made sure government regulations were followed.

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Free fishing coming to Missouri on June 8-9

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Free fishing coming to Missouri on June 8-9


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Missouri will allow free fishing June 8-9, the Missouri Department of Conservation said.

During Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish in the Show-Me State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout permit or trout park daily tag.

It is an annual MDC event that takes place statewide during the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June.

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Aside from not needing permits, other fishing regulations remain in effect, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler may keep. Special permits may still be required at some county, city or private fishing areas. Trespass laws remain in effect on private property.

MDC said Missouri is a great place to fish, and Free Fishing Days encourages people to sample Missouri’s abundant fishing opportunities. Missouri has more than a million acres of surface water, and most of it provides great fishing. More than 200 different fish species are found in Missouri, with more than 20 of them being game fish for the state’s more than 1.1 million anglers.

For information on Missouri fishing regulations, fish identification, and more, get a copy of MDC’s 2024 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations, available where permits are sold, or online at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/summary-missouri-fishing-regulations.

Want to learn to fish? MDC’s Discover Nature – Fishing Program provides a series of free lessons throughout the state. All fishing gear is provided. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/discover-nature-fishing.

Need fishing gear? MDC works with numerous libraries and other locations around the state to loan fishing gear for free. Fishing poles and tackle boxes are available at all Texas County Library branches for check out, courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

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MDC’s free MO Fishing app can help anglers find the best places to fish in Missouri, access regulation information, identify fish by species and more. Anglers can also buy, store and show fishing permits right on their mobile devices. MO Fishing is available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-fishing.



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