NCAA basketball rivalries: Ranking the top 25 college basketball rivalries

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: A fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels (L) and the Duke Blue Devils pose for a photo while holding a sign referring to the Duke/UNC rivalry during the semifinals of the ACC Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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No. 15 – Illinois Fightin’ Illini vs. Missouri Tigers

All-Time Series: Illinois leads 32-18

Missouri has a thing for border battles. Later on this list, we’ll see another, but first, we’ll tackle the annual “Braggin’ Rights” game between Illinois and Missouri, played each year on a neutral floor in St. Louis, which is centrally located between the campuses of each school. This game is nationally televised each year and is a big deal for fans of each program, as well as for those in and around the St. Louis area.

The matchup has featured some notable games over the years, including a triple-overtime thriller in 1993 when Missouri knocked off No. 19 Illinois 108-107. Nine of the battles have been while each program was ranked in the top-25, and in 1988, 1989 and 2001 featured battles of top-10 nationally ranked teams. The national success each program has had over the years adds an extra layer to this rivalry.

Missouri has taken each of the last two meetings between the schools, reversing a 5-game winning streak for the Illini. Illinois has put together the longest winning streaks in the series, taking nine in a row under Bill Self and Bruce Weber in the 2000s, and compiling an 8-game win streak between 1983 and 1991.

Game of Note: December 22, 2012 – No. 12 Missouri def No. 10 Illinois 82-73

In what would be an NCAA Tournament season for each program, the two met in 2012 in their annual matchup highly ranked in the polls, Missouri entering No. 12 and Illinois at No. 10. Despite 23 points and eight rebounds from the Illini’s Brandon Paul, Missouri’s balanced attack was able to secure victory for the Tigers in the last matchup featuring these teams being ranked so prominently.