Kansas Jayhawks vs. Missouri Tigers basketball returns: Predictions, TV, time, lineups

THE DETAILS

When/where: 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

TV/radio: ESPN; WHB (810 AM) for KU broadcast, KMBZ (98.1 FM) for Mizzou

PROJECTED LINEUPS

About Missouri (5-4): The Tigers are fresh off a 72-44 win over Eastern Illinois, which entered the game with the second worst NET ranking in Division I. Cuonzo Martin’s team has struggled on offense throughout the young season and it doesn’t look like those issues are going away soon. Missouri has shot just 24% from three-point range against Division I opponents, which ranks 353 out of 358 teams, per KenPom. The Tigers’ effective field goal percentage (44.3%), points per possession (.817) and turnover percentage (22.4%) are also among the worst in the nation. Kobe Brown leads the way as one of a few bright spots, averaging 14.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. KenPom ranks Mizzou No. 138.

About No. 8 Kansas (7-1): KU leads the all-time series against Missouri, 174-95. The Jayhawks have won 13 in a row versus the Tigers in Allen Fieldhouse. MU’s last win in Allen was 71-63 during the 1998-99 season. … Bill Self is 15-4 versus MU as KU coach. Under Self, the Jayhawks are 9-0 in Lawrence, 5-4 in Columbia and 1-0 in Dallas. … KU is 7-1 or better for the eighth consecutive season and 14th time in Self’s 19 seasons at KU. Self is 736-224 all-time, including 529-119 while at Kansas. … KU has led at the half in all eight games. … Senior Ochai Agbaji has started 85 consecutive games, moving him into ninth place in KU history for consecutive starts. Agbaji has scored 20+ points in six of eight games and 13 times in his career. … Junior Christian Braun has scored at least 20 points in consecutive games for the first time in his career. He has combined for 51 points over his last two games, the most in a two-game stretch in his career. … Agbaji and Braun have each scored 20+ points in back-to-back games. ... KU’s victory over UTEP on Tuesday upped the Jayhawks’ record in T-Mobile Centrer to 43-10. KU is 229-84 all-time in games played in Kansas City. ... The Jayhawks have just one game next week because of final exams. KU will play Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18 at Allen.

Predictions

Lila Bromberg: This one probably isn’t going to be pretty for the Tigers. Yes, previous not-so-great Mizzou teams have upset highly ranked (and No. 1) Kansas squads, but I just don’t see any path to that happening this time around.

The Tigers’ offense has been lackluster all season and it’s hard to see them keeping up with a Jayhawks team that averages 84.5 points per game and has the third-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country.

Slow starts have been an Achilles heel for Missouri and I expect that to be much of the same come Saturday. The Tigers will dig themselves into a hole early, get overwhelmed by what is expected to be an electric home crowd and likely end up losing in blowout fashion.

Kansas 82, Missouri 60

Jesse Newell: It’s not popular to like Missouri’s chances at keeping this one close, mostly because Kansas fans think the Jayhawks will win by a bunch and Tigers fans don’t seem to like their team and also appear to be expecting the worst.

One Power Five team blowing another out is difficult, though, and though Mizzou has been inconsistent offensively, it has shown some positive signs defensively that could definitely help in this one.

Most notably: The Tigers are third-best nationally when it comes to limiting opponents’ points per possession in transition (via Synergy), and that counters against KU’s greatest strength offensively, which has been scoring on the run.

Missouri needs to limit its turnovers, but if it can turn this into a half-court affair, I like the Tigers’ chances of keeping this closer than Vegas expects. I also don’t think Mizzou will shoot it this poorly from three all season, and just a little more good fortune in that regard Saturday could go a long way toward making this matchup respectable.

Kansas 76, Missouri 65

Gary Bedore

The Kansas City Star

816-234-4068

Gary Bedore covers KU basketball for The Kansas City Star. He has written about the Jayhawks since 1978 — during the Ted Owens, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Bill Self eras. He has won the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year award and KPA writing awards.