Only rule of this thread: Pick one. Of all the games, of all the moments, of all the plays, what's your BEST memory? When you think of the Border War, what's the one game or one play or one player or one day that stands out? Here's mine:
1997, I'm a junior at Mizzou working at KOMU. Missouri is going to finish the season 16-17. kansas comes to town as the No. 1 team in the country, undefeated at 22-0. Jayhawks started the season No. 2 in the country, went to No. 1 after three weeks and were No. 1 in every single poll the rest of the year. Many believe it is Roy Williams' best team in Lawrence led by Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz.
Kelly Thames fouls out after playing 46 minutes, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Derek Grimm scores 20 and Jason Sutherland 18 for Missouri. But it is senior Corey Tate who picks up a loose ball near the free throw line with just more than a second left in double overtime to beat the top-ranked team in the land 96-94. The Tigers lose six of their final seven in the regular season, then go on a miracle run to get to the Big 12 tournament final where they lose 87-60 to still No. 1 ku. kansas would not lose again, reeling off 12 in a row to enter the Sweet 16 at 34-1 and the prohibitive favorite to win Roy's first national title. Miles Simon, Mike Bibby and Arizona take down the beaks.
The next day, I'm volunteering at the MSHSAA basketball championships in the Hearnes Center. Kareem and Jaron Rush lead a ridiculous Pembroke Hill team to the state championship. In the stands in Columbia, the day after his team has been knocked out is Roy Williams. One of my biggest regrets to this day is that I didn't have the guts to ask Roy to sign a copy of the Kansas City Star, headline "March Sadness" in gigantic font on the front page.
I've been to a lot of Border War games. A lot of them meant more and a lot had great moments. But that's always the one I go back to. What's yours?
1997, I'm a junior at Mizzou working at KOMU. Missouri is going to finish the season 16-17. kansas comes to town as the No. 1 team in the country, undefeated at 22-0. Jayhawks started the season No. 2 in the country, went to No. 1 after three weeks and were No. 1 in every single poll the rest of the year. Many believe it is Roy Williams' best team in Lawrence led by Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz.
Kelly Thames fouls out after playing 46 minutes, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Derek Grimm scores 20 and Jason Sutherland 18 for Missouri. But it is senior Corey Tate who picks up a loose ball near the free throw line with just more than a second left in double overtime to beat the top-ranked team in the land 96-94. The Tigers lose six of their final seven in the regular season, then go on a miracle run to get to the Big 12 tournament final where they lose 87-60 to still No. 1 ku. kansas would not lose again, reeling off 12 in a row to enter the Sweet 16 at 34-1 and the prohibitive favorite to win Roy's first national title. Miles Simon, Mike Bibby and Arizona take down the beaks.
The next day, I'm volunteering at the MSHSAA basketball championships in the Hearnes Center. Kareem and Jaron Rush lead a ridiculous Pembroke Hill team to the state championship. In the stands in Columbia, the day after his team has been knocked out is Roy Williams. One of my biggest regrets to this day is that I didn't have the guts to ask Roy to sign a copy of the Kansas City Star, headline "March Sadness" in gigantic font on the front page.
I've been to a lot of Border War games. A lot of them meant more and a lot had great moments. But that's always the one I go back to. What's yours?
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