Border War Postponed 

LAWRENCE –  One of the biggest border rivalries will not reignite this fall as planned for. 

Kansas and Missouri have to postpone what would have been the first in-season between the teams men’s basketball programs in over a decade.

The Jayhawks and Tigers were originally set to duel off on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo; instead, a Dec. 11, 2021 showdown at the infamous Allen Fieldhouse will represent the first meeting in a six-season agreement to reignite what was, until 2012, considered the longest continuous rivalry west of the Mississippi River.

To make up for the lost 2020-21 matchup, the universities have agreed to have a neutral site matchup at T-Mobile Center to be held during the 2026-27 season.

“I was excited about beginning this series with Missouri again on (Dec. 12),” said KU coach Bill Self in a news release. ”However, it is in the best interest of both of our schools and especially our fans to push this back a year. This rivalry goes back a long way, and we want our fans to be able to witness it again in-person. So, delaying it a year was an easy decision.”

The men’s basketball programs last officially met on Feb. 25, 2012, an 87-86 overtime victory for the Jayhawks in Lawrence. KU defeated Mizzou 93-87 in an Oct. 23, 2017 charity exhibition in Kansas City, Mo., a preseason matchup that helped raise more than $1.75 million for hurricane relief.

Jayhawks guard Ochai Agbaji dribbles down court against Pittsburg State inside Allen Fieldhouse. [ Evert Nelson/ The Capital-Journal]