All would be forgiven with a victory on Sunday.
Missouri basketball had its first 2025-26 season hiccups Tuesday evening, falling against Notre Dame on the road in an ACC/SEC Challenge game. Mizzou’s undefeated start to the season, which had spanned eight games against almost entirely overmatched mid-range opponents, ended with this loss.
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But the Tigers (8-1) have a big opportunity to succeed.
It’s time for the border war.
Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, Mizzou and No. 21-ranked Kansas will face off at the T-Mobile Center. The game is scheduled to begin at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The Jayhawks (6-3) have been far from perfect in the nonconference with losses to North Carolina, Duke and UConn. Head coach Bill Self’s team went 3-0 at the Player’s Era Festival in Las Vegas with wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse and Tennessee.
Last time Mizzou, who beat KU 76-67 last season in Colombiawon back-to-back Border War matches in 2005-06.
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Here’s what you need to know about the Jayhawks and this Sunday’s massive game in KC:
Will freshman Darryn Peterson play?
The Kansas superstar freshman has missed the last seven games with a hamstring injury.
Self said Tuesday after a loss to UConn that Peterson, a shooting guard who was the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2025 class, was 90 to 95 percent, but he wouldn’t play him until he reached 100 percent.
That could mean he returns Sunday against Mizzou.
“(Peterson) had a really good day today,” » Self-said Tuesday. “Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be his day off, and then hopefully, if there are no setbacks, he will train with us on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at full speed.”
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More: Why Darryn Peterson didn’t play for Kansas basketball against UConn
Peterson played in two games, against UNC and Green Bay, and 51 total minutes for Kansas. He scored 21.5 points per game in those outings, shot 50 percent from 3-point range and totaled six assists and four steals.
The 6-5 guard is an extraordinary talent.
Self called Peterson the best freshman he’s ever coached, which is a pretty screaming group. Peterson is currently the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
November 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) at the free throw line in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Player to watch (non-Peterson edition): Flory Bidunga
The way Mizzou defends Bidunga could have extremely serious consequences.
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Against not-so-stellar opponents, Missouri has been an elite 2-point offense and defense. Tigers are long. Whether that length will translate into in-house production as the schedule heats up remains to be seen.
Bidunga will present a whole measuring instrument.
The Congolese big man is a former five-star prospect who stands 6-10 and 235 pounds. Kansas plays him over 30 minutes per game and he averages 15.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Bidunga is shooting 61.1% from the field, as he is very efficient around the rim.
Step up: MU center Shawn Phillips Jr.
Josh Gray faced Hunter Dickinson in the paint last season. That’s one of the main reasons the Tigers celebrated up a storm on the field at Mizzou Arena.
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The Tigres must prevent Bidunga from dominating the paint. Mizzou hasn’t necessarily shown us this season that it can beat a good team with its perimeter work, both on offense and defense, so being the better team inside is a must.
November 15, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, United States; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) rebounds over Princeton Tigers guard Jackson Hicke (33) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
How can Mizzou hurt Kansas?
There’s a reason we say keeping Bidunga quiet is key.
Kansas is shooting 32.9% from 3-point range this season. That ranks it 214th in Division I.
Mizzou ranks in the top 10 percent in the country in defending 2-point shots, according to CBB Analytics. The Tigers are in the bottom half of the country, both in allowing 3-point shots to increase and in opposition 3-point percentage.
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It’s risky, but there’s an argument here that Mizzou should challenge KU to beat it behind the arc.
The calculus changes if Peterson can play. It’s a bucket all over the place.
But otherwise, Mizzou might be better off packing the paint, using its length to defend the rim and seeing if the Jayhawks — whose offense is outside the top 50 in the country, according to KenPom — can win this game behind the arc.
Score Prediction: Missouri 71, Kansas 70
We reserve the right to change this based on Peterson’s availability, but until we are told otherwise…let’s have fun with it.
The match is very interesting. Mizzou’s defense leaves a lot to be desired, but what the Tigers do well could be important against KU.
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Now, Anthony Robinson II has to step in and help Mark Mitchell by getting to the rim and the free throw line as well. Jacob Crews can’t be the only player to make 3-pointers, as was the case at Notre Dame. What we believe to be true about MU’s defense, based on the production of bought plays, must translate into ranked opposition.
More: Jacob Crews showed growth for the second year and Missouri basketball is benefiting
More: Missouri basketball needs a supporting cast or else it will be a tough season
If all of this happens — and it doesn’t seem like an unreasonable big step to get there — then Mizzou could win back-to-back border wars.
We’re going to stick our necks out and say that’s exactly what’s happening.
This article was originally published on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri vs. Kansas Basketball Scouting Report, Score Prediction
