All would be forgiven with a win Sunday.
Missouri basketball had its first hiccup of the 2025-26 season Tuesday night, falling against Notre Dame on the road in an ACC/SEC Challenge matchup. Mizzou’s undefeated start to the season, which had lasted eight games against almost entirely overmatched mid-major opponents, ended with that loss.
Advertisement
But the Tigers (8-1) get a big opportunity to get right.
It’s time for Border War.
On Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, Mizzou and No. 21-ranked Kansas will face off at T-Mobile Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at noon and will air on ESPN2.
The Jayhawks (6-3) have been far from perfect in the nonconference with losses to North Carolina, Duke and UConn. Head coach Bill Self’s team did go 3-0 at the Player’s Era Festival in Las Vegas with wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse and Tennessee.
The last time Mizzou, which beat KU 76-67 last season in Columbia, won back-to-back Border War games was 2005-06.
Advertisement
Here’s what you need to know about the Jayhawks and this Sunday’s massive game in KC:
Will star freshman Darryn Peterson play?
Kansas’ superstar freshman has missed the past seven games with a hamstring injury.
Self said Tuesday after a loss to UConn that Peterson, a shooting guard who was the No. 2-overall recruit in the 2025 class, was 90-95% but that he won’t play him until he is 100%.
That could be mean he’ll return Sunday against Mizzou.
“(Peterson) had a really good day today,” Self said Tuesday. “Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be his off day, and then hopefully, if there’s no setbacks, he’ll be practicing with us on Thursday, Friday and Saturday full-speed.”
Advertisement
More: Why Darryn Peterson did not play for Kansas basketball against UConn
Peterson has played two games, against UNC and Green Bay, and 51 total minutes for Kansas. He scored 21.5 points per game in those outings, shot 50% from 3-point range and had six total assists and four steals.
The 6-5 guard is an extraordinary talent.
Self has called Peterson the best freshman he has ever coached, which is a pretty gaudy group. Peterson is currently the No. 1 projected overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Nov 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) at the free throw line in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Player to watch (non-Peterson edition): Flory Bidunga
How Mizzou defends Bidunga could be extremely consequential.
Advertisement
Against not-so-stellar opponents, Missouri has been an elite 2-point offense and defense. The Tigers are long. Whether that length will translate to inside production as the schedule heats up is yet to be determined.
Bidunga will present quite the measuring stick.
The Congolese big man is a former five-star prospect who is 6-10 and 235 pounds. Kansas is playing him more than 30 minutes per game and he’s averaging 15.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Bidunga is shooting 61.1% from the field, as he’s highly efficient around the rim.
Step up: MU center Shawn Phillips Jr.
Josh Gray handled Hunter Dickinson in the paint last season. He was a big reason the Tigers celebrated with a Mizzou Arena court-storm.
Advertisement
The Tigers have to keep Bidunga from dominating the paint. Mizzou hasn’t necessarily shown us this season that it can beat a good team with its perimeter work, both on offense and defense, so being the better team inside is a must.
Nov 15, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) grabs a rebound over Princeton Tigers guard Jackson Hicke (33) during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
How can Mizzou hurt Kansas?
There’s a reason we say keeping Bidunga quiet is the key.
Kansas is shooting 32.9% from 3-point range this season. That ranks No. 214 in Division I.
Mizzou ranks among the top-10% in the nation at defending 2-point shots, per CBB Analytics. The Tigers are in the bottom half of the country at both allowing 3-point shots to go up and at opposition 3-point percentage.
Advertisement
It’s risky, but there’s an argument here that Mizzou should dare KU to beat it from behind the arc.
The calculus changes if Peterson can play. He’s a bucket from everywhere.
But if not, Mizzou might be best served packing the paint, using its length defend the rim and seeing if the Jayhawks — whose offense outside the top 50 in the country, per KenPom — can win this game from behind the arc.
Score prediction: Missouri 71, Kansas 70
We reserve the right to change this based on Peterson’s availability, but until we’re told otherwise … let’s have some fun with it.
The matchup is very interesting. Mizzou’s defense has left a lot to be desired, but what the Tigers do well could be important against KU.
Advertisement
Now, Anthony Robinson II has to step up and help Mark Mitchell by also getting to the rim and free throw line. Jacob Crews can’t be the only player drilling 3-pointers, as was the case at Notre Dame. What we believe to be true about the MU defense, based on buy-game production, has to translate to ranked opposition.
More: Jacob Crews has shown second-year growth, and Missouri basketball is benefitting
More: Missouri basketball needs a supporting cast or season will be struggle
If all of that takes place — and it does not feel like a massive, unreasonable leap to get there — then Mizzou could win back-to-back Border Wars.
We’ll stick our neck out and say that’s exactly what happens.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball vs Kansas scouting report, score prediction
