KU, MU set to shut down Hearnes Center
Columbia, Mo. ? Missouri’s basketball team sure has a lot to play for today.
“Senior Day, NCAA Tournament implications, the closing of the Hearnes Center,” fifth-year MU coach Quin Snyder said, not even mentioning the fact a victory over archrival Kansas University would be his 100th as a head coach.
“There is a sweetness to it that ages well when you get a win like that.”
Tip for today’s battle between the No. 21-ranked Jayhawks (19-7, 11-4 Big 12 Conference) and the NCAA-bubble-team Tigers (15-11, 9-6) is 1 p.m. at MU’s soon-to-be-closed building. The game in the 32-year-old building will be shown live on CBS (channels 5 and 13).
“So much is riding on the game,” Snyder said.
Much more for Mizzou than KU, a team assured of an NCAA bid.
“I think they will be motivated,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “but we will have great motivation as well. They have plenty to play for, but I think we do as well.”
The Jayhawks are playing for the chance to play first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games in nearby Kemper Arena. KU likely will need to be a top-4 or maybe even a No. 5 seed to be placed in Kansas City, Mo.
“If the season ended today, people have us as a 5 or 6 (seed),” Self said. “If we get two wins in Dallas (at this week’s Big 12 tournament) and a win at Missouri, I think you’d have a great chance to be in Kansas City.”
KU, MU set to shut down Hearnes Center
Live updates via cell phoneKU also would like to show it can win a big game on the road. The Jayhawks, who have dropped four straight road games, last lost five straight on the road during the 1982-83 season.
“It’s time for us to step up and play well away from our building,” Self said. “I do believe this, you’ve got to go take your show on the road.”
Missouri, which has won six in a row at home, definitely will be putting on a show today. Former Missouri governor Warren Hearnes will be on hand, along with legendary MU coach Norm Stewart and 40 former Tiger players, including most of the 1993-94 team that went undefeated in the Big Eight.
Chances are all the black-and-gold supporters will be crazed hoping to avenge KU’s 65-56 win over the Tigers on Feb. 2 at Allen Fieldhouse.
“I think it’s like the movie ‘Any Given Sunday,'” KU senior Jeff Graves said. “Anybody can win it.”
The Jayhawks realize they’ll have to bring their A-game today against a team that has won six of its last seven games.
“They’ve got a lot of motivational factors regarding this game,” point guard Aaron Miles said. “We’ve got to play our game and not worry about all those factors.”
Added junior Wayne Simien: “We’ll be ready because of the rivalry itself. It’s going to be a huge game. They are going to be pumped up because it’s the seniors’ last game and last game at Hearnes Center. We expect them to play as hard as they can, but we will too.
“It is one of the greatest rivalries in the country. I really enjoy playing in it.”
¢
Stats, facts: Kansas, 13-18 all-time at the Hearnes Center, has won two straight in Columbia. In a six-season span beginning in 1996, KU lost at Missouri while ranked third, first, third, 19th, seventh and third. In 1997, the year the Jayhawks were No. 1 and lost, Missouri finished 16-17. … MU is 60-13 at Hearnes during the Quin Snyder era. Snyder’s teams are 2-2 versus KU at Hearnes. .. Overall, MU is 405-71 at Hearnes which includes a 24-8 record on Sundays. … Tiger seniors Rickey Paulding, Arthur Johnson, Travon Bryant and Josh Kroenke are 50-8 at home.