Sunday Showdown: Who Will Claim the Bragging Rights?

McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights are at stake on Sunday afternoon when University of Missouri men’s basketball faces off against Illinois in St. Louis. The game is set to begin at noon at the Enterprise Center and will be broadcasted on ESPN.

 

ABOUT THE TIGERS

• Mizzou boasts a 10-1 record in the 2024-25 season and is currently experiencing its longest winning stretch in 11 years, having won 10 consecutive games.

• The Tigers achieved their 10-game winning streak on Tuesday, securing an 83-72 victory over Jacksonville State. Jacob Crews led the squad with a season-high 19 points in that win.

• Junior Mark Mitchell is the team’s top scorer with an average of 13.5 points and 1.2 blocks per game.

• Tamar Bates and Anthony Robinson II also contribute significantly, averaging 12.3 and 11.5 points, respectively.

• Robinson averages a team-high 4.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

• Josh Gray records an average of 5.3 rebounds per game, leading the team.

• Missouri is ranked fifth nationally with a scoring offense of 88.7 points, 70th in scoring defense at 66.7 points, and eighth in scoring margin at +22.0.

 

ABOUT THE FIGHTING ILLINI

• Illinois approaches the Braggin’ Rights game with a 7-3 record, including a 1-1 mark in Big Ten competition.

• The Illini are coming off a narrow two-point loss to No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday, finishing 66-64.

• Four players from Illinois are scoring in double digits, led by 16.1 points from Kasparas Jakucionis, who also registers a team-high 5.6 assists.

• Tomislav Ivisic follows with 14.2 points and leads the team with 9.7 rebounds per game.

• The Illini enters the matchup with a scoring capacity of 84.0 points and a defensive record of 64.6 points.

 

SERIES HISTORY

• The two rivals have faced each other annually since 1983, with the only exception being the 2020 encounter during the COVID season held in St. Louis.

• All-time, the Illini maintain a 34-20 advantage in the series, including a 26-16 lead in St. Louis.

• The Illini have triumphed in two of the last three matchups, one of which was a 97-73 victory last season.

• Nevertheless, the Tigers have secured victories in four of the last six years, highlighted by a 93-71 win two years prior.

 

TIGERS VERSUS BIG TEN

• Throughout history, Missouri has faced Big Ten teams 144 times, with 54 of those matchups against Illinois.

• In total, the Tigers hold a 58-86 all-time record against the conference.

• Under Dennis Gates‘ leadership for over two seasons, MU stands at 2-1 versus the Big Ten, achieving a 1-1 record against Illinois and defeating Minnesota in 2023.

 

STAYING HOT MIZZOU

• The Tigers rank among the hottest teams in the nation, currently riding a streak of 10 consecutive wins.

• As of now, Mizzou holds the fourth-longest winning streak in the nation ahead of Sunday’s contest.

• This represents the 12th occasion in school history where Mizzou has achieved a winning streak of ten games or more, the first since the 2013-14 season when they won their first 10 games.

• The Tigers last achieved an 11-game winning streak during a 14-game stretch in 2011-12.

 

CHALLENGING TEAM TO PREPARE FOR

• The Tigers pose a challenging matchup due to their diverse range of offensive options.

• On Tuesday, Jacob Crews made history as the eighth different Tiger to lead the team in scoring this season within just 11 games.

• The leading scorer, Mark Mitchell, has only led in scoring for Mizzou once this season, and no player has topped MU’s scoring charts more than twice.

• No other SEC institution has had more than six players lead in scoring during this season.

 

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

• The offensive output of Mizzou ranks among the best in the nation this season.

• The Tigers are currently positioned fourth in the country with a scoring offense of 88.7 points.

 

SECOND IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

• The fundamental factor behind MU’s early-season offensive success is their effective shooting.

• Presently, the Tigers are ranked second nationally with a field goal shooting percentage of 52.0 percent.

 

CONSISTENT OFFENSE

• A successful offense relies on consistency, and the Tigers are demonstrating this throughout the 2024-25 season.

• Missouri has scored 75 points or more in all 11 games this season – their longest stretch since a 14-game sequence in 2011-12.

• Moreover, MU has shoot at least 44 percent in each of the 11 games – marking their longest streak since a 28-game stretch in 1988-89.

 

TOP 10 IN STEALS

• The team’s defensive strength lies in their ability to cause turnovers and secure additional possessions.

• Mizzou is currently ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 10.5 steals per game, leading to an average of 22.4 points generated from turnovers per game.

• Sophomore Anthony Robinson II leads MU and ranks 19th nationally with an average of 2.45 steals per game, achieving at least three steals in 6 of 11 contests.