LAURENT — Kansas basketball will face Missouri on Sunday in Columbia in the final matchup between the rivals.
This will be the fourth consecutive season where the teams will face off. The No. 1 Jayhawks (7-1) have won the last three meetings. Kansas is coming off a defeat in Creighton, while the Tigers (7-1) are coming off a home victory against California.
Here’s some food for thought and a prediction before the noon announcement.
How Jaden Nickens’ two-sport plan could work for Kansas football and basketball
It’s Dajuan Harris Jr.’s opportunity to win 1 more time in Columbia, Missouri
Kansas graduate guard Dajuan Harris Jr. is preparing for what will be his final game in Colombia, and as a native there, that means a lot to him.
He won there in the 2022-23 season, and by a significant margin. He actually noted that he was hoping for more back-and-forth games on Sunday, both because it’s his last opportunity and because he hasn’t gotten a feel for what the game of rivalry due to the Jayhawks’ 95-67 victory.
Harris is coming off a game against Creighton in which he took a lot of shots, because of Creighton’s defensive game plan, and too often they didn’t fall. But he doesn’t view those shots as bad ideas and said coach Bill Self doesn’t think so either. If Missouri tries to defend the same way Creighton did and those shots are there for them, they will take them back in a matchup they consider one of the greatest rivalries in college basketball.
This is what stands out about Missouri basketball
Harris said that since Dennis Gates took over as Missouri’s coach, he has seen a team that seeks to play fast and defend. It will shoot for 3 seconds. However, that was before he and his teammates really got into their Tigers scouting.
Self said Missouri was a better team this year, with some individual players like senior guard Tamar Bates getting off to a great start this season. The Tigers also have junior guard/forward Mark Mitchell, who the Jayhawks have recruited hard in the past. While Missouri features many new faces, Self said the Tigers have the talent to play at the speed they want, plus they have strength and size on the interior, while they are looking to reach the NCAA tournament and compete in the tough SEC.
Bill Self updates Rylan Griffen’s status
Kansas junior guard Rylan Griffen was unavailable for the first time this season Wednesday, when the Jayhawks lost at Creighton. Given Kansas’ issues shooting the ball, he would have been a valuable player to put on the field. But Self said he sees no reason why Griffen can’t be close to 100 percent when the Jayhawks play Missouri this weekend.
Griffen has started and come off the bench so far this season. Regardless of his status, he is an important part of Kansas’ rotation. His playmaking ability only enhances the Jayhawks’ ability to win the game.
Kansas vs. Missouri Basketball Prediction
Kansas has shown it can take on a hostile environment like Missouri’s and win, and it’s ready to do it again. This one won’t have as wide a margin as last time, but it will still be a victory for the Jayhawks. This time, Kansas won 85-74.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas sports at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association Sportswriter of the Year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article was originally published on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas vs. Missouri Basketball Scouting Report, Rivalry Prediction
