A renewed rivalry on the hardwood
Missouri’s men’s basketball program and Saint Louis University have agreed to a three‑game series that begins on November 6, when the Tigers travel to the Enterprise Center in St. Louis to face the Billikens. The agreement guarantees meetings in the 2027‑28 and 2028‑29 seasons as well, marking the first meeting between the schools since December 2001.
Both coaching staffs welcomed the arrangement. Missouri coach Dennis Gates said he is eager to rekindle a rivalry that has been dormant for more than two decades, while SLU coach Josh Schertz confirmed that contract logistics have been ironed out and that the teams are ready to move forward.
The upcoming game will serve as the second contest of Missouri’s non‑conference slate, which also includes a neutral‑site showdown against Nebraska on Dec. 12 at the T‑Mobile Center in Kansas City, a home matchup against Pittsburgh in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 1, and a series of neutral‑site games against Marquette in Chicago, Kansas in the Border War, and Illinois in the Braggin’ Rights game at Enterprise Center.
Saint Louis, under Schertz, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his second season, adding momentum to the Billikens’ campaign. The team plays its home games at Chaifetz Arena, and the renewed series is expected to draw significant attention from fans and media alike.
College Hoops Today analyst Jon Rothstein highlighted the significance of the series for both programs, noting that the matchups will test early‑season readiness and could influence national rankings. The Tigers will also close the season series against Howard at Mizzou Arena, completing a three‑game stretch that underscores Missouri’s ambitious non‑conference schedule.