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. 11 – Kansas Jayhawks vs. Missouri Tigers

All-Time Series: Kansas leads 172-96

In 2012, college basketball lost one of its longest and greatest rivalries when Missouri left the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference, ending the annual battles between Kansas and Missouri termed the “Border Showdown,” formerly known as the “Border War.” With its roots planted in the aftermath of the Civil War, these two proud programs from neighboring states hooped against each other for over a century.

The rivalry’s legacy began with the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, at the helm of Kansas battling Missouri in the early 1900s. Such a deep-rooted legacy continued for much of the next century until conference realignment reared its ugly head causing the rivalry to be put on hold. However, hope has been rekindled as the schools will reignite this heated rivalry beginning with the 2020-21 college hoops season for a minimum of six games in the coming years, an opportunity for fans unfamiliar with the legacy to appreciate the nature of one of college basketball’s longest rivalries.

Game of Note: February 25, 2012 – No. 4 Kansas def No. 3 Missouri 87-86 (OT)

In a rivalry this storied, it is difficult to highlight only one particular game of note. However, given the rekindling of the rivalry upcoming, we will focus on the last game in the series, which was also a matchup of top-five teams in the country. Kansas overcame a 19-point deficit on the back of Thomas Robinson, whose performance included 28 points, 12 rebounds, and one block, the block coming at the most crucial time in the game swatting Phil Pressey’s driving layup with three seconds at the end of regulation.

Tyshawn Taylor’s free throws with eight seconds to go in overtime sealed the comeback win for the Jayhawks, who would ride that momentum into March, ultimately succumbing to Kentucky in the national championship game.