Kansas men’s basketball knows Sunday isn’t just another nonconference game. The Border Showdown is a historic rivalry between Kansas and Missouri.  After last year’s lopsided loss in Columbia, the No. 21 Jayhawks enter T-Mobile Center with a clear understanding of what this matchup means. 

“This is always one of the most looked-forward-to games on our schedule every year,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “They kicked our ass last year. I haven’t forgotten that, nor have our guys.”

The Jayhawks fell down early in last year’s matchup. For sophomore center Flory Bidunga it's about avoiding a slow start this season. 

“We came out flat last year, something we will not do this year,” Bidunga said. “When you committed to Kansas, you committed to the culture. Everybody knows about Kansas and Missouri.”

Kansas has played multiple storied programs already in its non-conference slate, but Sunday’s game against the team out east means much more. 

“The attention this one game will get will be more than Notre Dame, UConn, Duke and Tennessee combined,” Self said. “Internally? Yeah. Absolutely, I get more fired up for games like this.”

Kansas takes on Missouri in the Border Showdown on Sunday. Tipoff at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City is set for noon CST, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.