So Kansas currently holds a commanding 169-94 lead in the Border War, and as we explored yesterday, the recent history has basically been all Jayhawks. But it’s not fair to say that Kansas has ALWAYS dominated the match-up. In fact, there was a time in history where the rivalry was pretty darn competitive—as recently as ’08, to be exact.
That would be 1908. As of February 4 of that year, Missouri actually held the lead in the Border War series, 2-1. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Jayhawks ripped off a streak of 31 wins out of the next 33 contests, and Missouri has never regained the lead since (or even came close to doing so).
I’m struggling to find a period in time when this “rivalry” got reasonably competitive, and I’m just flat failing to find it. Kansas has won every decade, except the 1920s (I count a 14-13 Missouri edge from ’20-’29). Kansas has won the battle in every conference formation the schools have shared, with the closest margin being the 45-31 nod KU held in Big 8 regular season games (or 48-32, if you want to count the Big 8 Tournament). Kansas also holds the edge in every city in which they’ve ever played, with the exception of Dallas, where the two are just 1-1. That’s right—KU even leads 64-53 in Columbia.
Probably the most painful point for the Mizzou faithful is that they’ve never been able to even produce a COACH that can hold a winning record over Kansas. Mike Anderson is not off to any kind of a start that leads us to believe that he can right that wrong—he’s just 1-8. Even the great Norm Stewart only managed to go 33-41 versus the team he most wanted to beat.
The bottom line is that this series has been, is, and likely forever shall be a bloodbath. There really aren’t any two ways about it.
Obviously, the topic of this post refers to men's basketball...in anticipation of next Monday's Border War in that particular sport. However, the title simply reads "Mizzou Owned KU back in '08"...and I thought...that's right...we did own them in 2008! We also did in 2010, 2009, 2007...and overall, 6 out of the last 8 years. We are also well on our way this year.
ReplyDeleteOf course, that's Mizzou owning ku across all sports, not just the ONE (that's right...its only ONE) that all the ku blow-hards continually talk about. History is great...isn't it!
http://www.mutigers.com/ot/border-showdown.html
By the way, congrats to Turner Gill for his getting all 26 of his 2011 recruiting class to sign their letters of intent. I've now educated most ku fans reading this who had no idea of this news related to their football program...you see football ended in September as far as they were concerned...if it ever started in the first place in their minds.
So, as far as men's basketball goes...kudos ku...you have made it quite a one-sided rivalry historically. Here's hoping that my boys in black and gold close the gap (even if its a little bit at a time) over the coming years. Hell, let's start on Monday and shut the beakers' mouths for a bit.
Congratulations on your "all sport" victories. I hope you and the dozens and dozens of other to whom non-revenue sports matter enjoy the travelling trophy. As far as I'm concerned, I hope it stays with you. Otherwise, I'll be disappointed that my administration put too much emphasis on non-revenue sports.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that there is any jeopardy of "your" administration putting too much emphasis on anything but men's basketball.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, that leaves out one very important revenue sport to go along with the other non-revenue sports you have no concern with.
But, hey, go on with your one trick pony. Just don't get too disappointed when they go into the tournament this year and don't meet the level of expectation set forth by their seeding and/or ranking.
Lack of funding for football isn't the problem--there's plenty of money going that way. Whether it's going to the right guy is a legitimate criticism. Gill over Tommy T?
ReplyDeleteAs for failing to play to seed in the NCAA Tournament--happens to the best of them. You'd be surprised how little that hurts when it happens in such close proximity to a National Championship, or even a Final Four, or a string of conference titles. You'll have to take my word on that.
TrueSon98,
ReplyDeleteAs for mizzery dominating KU in football, again you have your facts mixed up. The overall series is tied 55-55 with 9 ties. That seems "even" to me not "dominating". Then again you probably don't want facts to stand in the way of your opinion.
Wow! Who as a Mizzou fan would argue Mu basketball compared to KU? You can't! Except for a few select seasons, so as a Mizzou fan I don't. Mizzou fields a good team and in the past has been a perenial attendee in the NCAA Tourney and we are getting back to that mark. There's a lot of schools who don't see the tournament every season. When it comes to basketball, you think four schools, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas and it always seems to go in that order primarily because of East Coast media bias. KU deserves the attention that Duke and UNC gets, but they don't get it. As a Mizzou fan, I actually am dissapointed with the sports media in this regard. KU has an amazing basketball program and has had for over a centry. But lets face it, college basketball was invented there and it should be that way. By the way, Phog Allen was from Missouri in case you didn't know. But that's OK Missouri also gave K-State Coach Snyder, so to have programs that were put on the National map, most Kansans have a Missouri guy to thank for guiding them in the right direction. Just saying. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with admitting your a one sport university, specially with the resume of National Championships in that sport of which KU has and rightfully is proud to have. Nebraska doesn't have a problem with being a one sport school. Why should KU? As a Mizzou fan, I would take repeated National Championships in a single sport any day and defend my schools status as a one sport University. The Hawks are amzing this season and good luck to you down the road. This KU team doesn't look like a KU team that'll fail to play to it's seed. This one is better than their last National Championship team - just my outsider opinion. Kuddos to Self and KU.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think College Basketball and the national picture, I tend to throw out there "The Big 6," in no particular order (Kansas, Kentucky, UNC, Duke, UCLA and Indiana). Indiana has fallen on hard times as of late, but it doesn't change their history. I wonder if at some point Michigan State, or maybe UConn, will be worthy of making it a "Big 7" or "Big 8," in terms of history and awareness.
ReplyDeleteAs for Phog being from Missouri, well, it's not always where you start, but where you finish. William Quantrill, after all, was imported to Missouri from Ohio--a d@mn Yankee, for crying out loud!
Thank God, Phog Allen was no William Quantrill.
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