ST. LOUIS, Mo. — In one of the most anticipated rivalry matchups of the year, the University of Missouri men’s basketball team heads to St. Louis to take on Illinois in the McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game Wednesday, Dec. 22 at the Enterprise Center.
The game is slated for an 8 p.m. tip on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo on the call and Andy Katz as the on-air reporter. Matt Michaels and Brad Loos will also have the game for the Tiger Radio Network. The game will be carried on alternate stations across Missouri, Facebook Live and the Varsity App.
MIZZOU HEADLINES
- The Tigers put together one of their most complete games of the season Saturday in an 83-75 win against Utah.
- Against the Utes, Kobe Brown recorded a career-high 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting and a personal best 11 free throws.
- Brown currently ranks second in the SEC with a 56.2 field goal percentage and is top-10 in scoring.
- The Tigers rank 23rd nationally in offensive rebounds per game (13.64) and are 6-1 on the season when outrebounding their opponent.
- Mizzou boasts two of the top rebounders in the SEC, with Kobe Brown ranking third in the league (9.1) and Ronnie DeGray III 17th (6.1).
- Against Utah, the Tigers saw two freshmen earn their first career starts in Anton Brookshire and Trevon Brazile.
- Illinois will be Mizzou’s third-straight game against a team in the top-80 NET rankings.
THE SERIES
- Wednesday marks the 52nd all-time meeting between the two programs as Illinois leads the series 32-19.
- Mizzou has won the last three-straight after Illinois had won five consecutive prior.
- The 2020 game was the first edition of the Mizzou-Illinois series to be held on a campus site since 1979.
- The Tigers took last season’s close contest, 81-78.
- In his career against Illinois, Javon Pickett is averaging 15.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 69 percent.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
- Illinois enters Wednesday’s game with an 8-3 record, just outside the AP Top 25 poll.
- The Illini have won six of their last seven games, the lone blemish coming in a four-point loss to No. 11 Arizona at home.
- Illinois is led by their big man in the paint, Kofi Cockburn, who is averaging 21.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.
- The Illini have also dominated the boards, ranking third in the nation in rebound margin and fourth in rebounds per game (43.45).
- As a team, Illinois stretches the floor with the 18th most 3-pointers per game (10.4) in the country.
UP NEXT
Mizzou turns its attention to SEC play following a holiday break. The Tigers will travel to take on Kentucky in Lexington, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Mizzou’s next home game is slated for Jan. 5 against Mississippi State. Fans can purchase tickets for all remaining home games at MUTigers.com/MBBTix
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest information on Mizzou Men’s Basketball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @MizzouHoops. Fans should call 1-800-CAT-PAWS for tickets or buy online today!
