Mizzou basketball returns to Big 12/SEC Challenge but still no KU matchup
For the second time in three years, coaches Cuonzo Martin and Bob Huggins will face off during Missouri’s nonconference basketball schedule.
The 2020 Big 12/SEC Challenge matchups were announced by both conferences on Thursday, with Martin’s Missouri Tigers drawing West Virginia in a road game on Jan. 25. The matchup marks Mizzou’s return to the challenge. Its last game was at Oklahoma in 2014.
While Missouri is back in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, it’s another season in which the Tigers won’t be playing Kansas, a matchup that MU and college basketball fans seem more interested in than the Jayhawks. The two teams played in an exhibition game at the Sprint Center in 2017, but haven’t been able to play a similar game, let alone an official one, despite Martin’s interest.
Instead, the Jayhawks will host Tennessee in the challenge, pitting former Texas coach Rick Barnes against Bill Self. KU is 2-1 all-time vs. the Vols with all three games coming during the Self era. The teams split a home-and-home series in 2009-10 and KU won the last matchup 82-67 in the 2014 Orlando Classic.
Mizzou and West Virginia last met in November 2017 when the Tigers faced the Mountaineers in the finals of the Advocare Invitational at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. West Virginia rallied late to beat MU 83-79. Known for its ability to force turnovers, Mizzou suffocated from Huggins’ press with 20 turnovers in the loss. Missouri is 1-2 all-time against West Virginia. The two teams last faced each other in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on March 5, 2013 in Columbia. MU won 80-71 behind 25 points from Jordan Clarkson. MU is 1-1 in the event.
In addition to its road at West Virginia, Missouri also travels to Temple, Xavier and the annual Braggin’ Rights game against Illinois in St. Louis. Missouri will also play in the 2019 Hall of Fame classic at the Sprint Center, opening play against Butler on Nov. 25 at 6 p.m.
Big 12/SEC Challenge schedule
All games on Jan. 25, 2020, times and TV TBA
Tennessee at Kansas
Missouri at West Virginia
Kansas State at Alabama
Kentucky at Texas Tech
Mississippi State at Oklahoma
LSU at Texas
Baylor at Florida
Iowa State at Auburn
TCU at Arkansas
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
This story was originally published July 25, 2019 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Mizzou basketball returns to Big 12/SEC Challenge but still no KU matchup."