Missouri basketball set for annual Braggin’ Rights game against Illinois

Missouri basketball takes on Illinois in St. Louis as a pair of teams with losing records a year ago look to get back on track this season.

The Missouri basketball team has a tough game in front of it today, but it’s one the Tigers need to top as the program would like to take another step forward.

Mizzou knocked off Temple two weeks ago and has had some time to let the early season sink in as it heads into a rivalry game. The Tigers are 6-4 with an 8-3 Illinois team in front of them. Both teams struggled last year, but this season, they appear to be improved. Illinois certainly has showed it.

The Big Ten team lost to No. 3 Maryland by one point before topping No. 5 Michigan by nine. It also lost to Miami by two points but was routed by ranked Arizona earlier in the season. Still, a combine three points separates Illinois from a one-loss team.

Missouri has a tough task ahead, but it represents a fun challenge. Here’s a look at today’s matchup:

Records: Illinois 8-3; Mizzou 6-4

Where: Enterprise Center in St. Louis

Time: noon

How to watch: SEC Network

How to listen: TuneIn

Live stats: mutigers

Line: Illinois -3 courtesy of the Action Network

Over/under: 131.5 courtesy of the Action Network

Last year’s record: Illinois 12-21; Missouri 15-17

Missouri basketball leads the all-time series 25-13. The Tigers dominated last year’s game 79-63. These two teams tend to streak back and forth. In fact, the last time a team didn’t win three in a row was in the mid-1990s. That favors the Tigers for the next two seasons.

Mizzou brings a trio of players that the Illinois crowd is sure to root against. Meanwhile, Illinois is an experienced team. But it is led by 7-foot freshman Kofi Cockburn, and he’ll go up against Jeremiah Tilmon. Cockburn averages 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Ayo Dosunmu, junior Trent Frazier and senior Andres Feliz also can score for their team. All three average more than 10 points a game. Their guards will be put to the test as Missouri will throw a number of its guards their way.

It’s an earlier contest than normal, but it could be a fun one this afternoon.

Next up: Missouri plays Chicago State on Monday, Dec. 30 at home.